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.