The Church: Prophet (Part 17)

Foretelling or Forthtelling?

Foretelling

· This is the common wester view of prophecy. It’s usually about predicting the future. It’s all about telling future events.

o Even when dealing with future events, often it was about what would happen if Israel didn’t turn back to God. Much of forthtelling conditional.

· When we examine the prophetic writings in scripture we see that the vast majority of all prophecy is directed at the present and not at the future… It’s not foretelling- it’s forthtelling

o Obviously there’s some foretelling in the prophets of the future- Of Jesus

o How much of prophetic ministry today is about the future if Jesus has come?

Forthtelling (Or exhortation)

· This is simply speaking forth God’s word and encouraging others to follow it.

· This is different from teaching/preaching as it is revelation from God into present situations. It is not exposition of the scripture but the exhortation should never contradict scripture. In the OT the prophets were mainly covenant enforcers rather than ones who looked into a crystal ball and saw the future (divination?)

· The main point of OT prophecy was about calling God’s people back into covenant faithfulness and the same is true for those today who have the gift of prophecy. Revelation 19:10b- For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

· The spirit of prophecy today should be about bring the church back into the way of Jesus and reflect his testimony as the faithful witness- PROPHECY ALWAYS POINTS TO JESUS

Prophetic ministry in the OT

The main things the OT prophets were concerned with was righteousness and justice in their forthtelling. Right relationships with God and others with is both about the moral, spiritual, and social aspects of life. They were covenant enforcers and the covenant framed the social and spiritual life of the community. Prophetic ministry in the NTJohn the baptist was not only calling for righteousness and holiness but he’s calling people to justice. This is reminiscent of the OT prophets. He’s preparing the hearts and lives of the people for Jesus.

Philip’s Daughters

In Acts 21:8-9 we see that Philip the evangelist (one of the 7 deacons from Acts 6) had 4 unmarried daughters who were prophetess’.

Agabus

Acts 11:28-30 and 21:10-11

He was one who listened to God’s voice through the Holy Spirit. Did Agabus get the prophecy right? Later in Acts 21 Paul is at the temple and the Jews start a mob against him and try to kill him. The Romans step in to break it up and arrest Paul. So, Agabus was technically wrong in the details but right in the results.

Prophecy in Corinth

1 Cor 14:1-5, 29-33

Jesus as Prophet

· Jesus come to break the power of sin and the devil but also to render justice and righteousness. See Luke 4:14-20 when he kicks off his ministry and defines his kingdom in the way Isaiah did above with justice for the powerless.

o Mary prophecies of Jesus bringing down thrones and exalting the humble

· Moses was considered a prophet and similarly Jesus delivers the kingdom charter on a mountain (Sermon on the mount) as the way to walk as God’s people.

· Jesus did speak truth to power (in love), he cared about righteousness and justice in the community and called us through example to live in covenant faithfulness to the Father.

· Jesus suffered and was martyredSummary

· Prophets exhort God’s people into Covenant faithfulness (covenant enforcers)

· They listen to God’s voice and communicate it to the people

· They are concerned with justice, righteousness, and holiness

· They often suffer for challenging the status quo.

· They need to be careful about being a jerk or overly offensive and much of their message is corrective. (often need to watch their tone and make sure to walk in love)

· Most of all they are concerned with God’s heart and lovingly bringing the community into those things.