Episode 151: Houses of Fire - Part 5 - The Proper Use of the New Testament Gift of Prophecy

Acts 11:27-30 – What? Prophets in the
Church? 


No epistles by Agabus? / "Foretelling” / Prophets from
Jerusalem


Response: People believed and acted 

GIFT OF PROPHECY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH - QUESTIONS

1. Difference between OT Prophets and NT Prophets – Authority in
OT vs. NT?


2. Who can prophesy in the NT? Who can be
prophets? 


3. What do we do with prophetic revelation in the
NT? 


3. Prophetic Gifts vs. Prophet(s) - Office


4. What are the prophetic gifts?


5. Why would we still NEED prophetic gifts? We have the
Scriptures.


6. Types of Prophetic Revelation 


7. How do you get prophetic gifts?


8. How do you grow in prophetic gifting?


9. Our role? God’s role? (sovereign)


10. Current Misuse of the Prophetic Gifts


11. What if a prophet makes a mistake? (Deuteronomy
13)


12. Does making a mistake make one a “false
prophet”?

RELEVANT NT PASSAGES ABOUT THE GIFT OF PROPHECY

Acts 2:6-8, 42  - 42 ...devoting themselves
to the apostles’ teaching

1 Cor 12:1, 4-11, 27-31


1 Cor 14:1, 3-5, 22-25, 26-32, 37-40  
1 Thes 5:19-21 


Acts 13:1-2 


Acts 21:8-14 - 8 


Eph 3:3-5 - 3 


Eph 4:11-13

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OT & NT PROPHETS

OT & NT Prophets receive revelation 


NT Prophets do NOT have the same authority as OT
Prophets!


No OT command – “Test everything" or “Let the others
judge”


Old Testament Prophets established/defined
doctrine


The Apostles (who all prophesied) established/defined
doctrine in the NT – Today??


NT Prophets were NOT establishing doctrine, defining
doctrine!


Discern times (spirits), edify/encourage/console,
direction, warn

DID THE GIFT OF PROPHECY CONTINUE AFTER THE APOSTLES??
Didache &
Shepherd of Hermas – $ = False Prophet



Justin Martyr (AD 160) - The prophetic gifts
remain with us, even to the present time….Now, it is possible to
see among us women and men who possess gifts of the Spirit of
God. 



Irenaeus (AD 180) - ...perform [works] in His
name, in order to promote the welfare of others, according to the
gift that each one has received from Him. Some truly and
certainly cast out devils. The result is that those who have been
cleansed from evil spirits frequently both believe and join
themselves to the Church. Others have
foreknowledge of things to come. They see
visions, and they utter prophetic expressions. Still others heal
the sick by laying their hands upon them, and the sick are made
whole. ...for the benefit of the Gentiles, neither practicing
deception upon any, nor taking any reward from them. For, just as
she has received without charge from God, so does she
minister without charge. ... has worked miracles for the
benefit of mankind, and not to lead them into error. The name of
our Lord Jesus Christ even now confers benefits.... many brethren
in the Church who possess prophetic gifts, and who through the
Spirit speak all kinds of languages, and bring to light for the
general benefit the hidden things of men.