SPCC, 22.06.2002
1. Some Current Difficulties
A: The Theological Denial of Prophecy
1. Usually based on a particular interpretation of 1 Cor 13: 10 which equates “the perfect” with the canon of the New Testament.
2. This argument fails because:
a. it assumes that the initial readers had a concept of a New Testament
b. it assumes that the sort of function performed by prophecy may conflict with the authority of scripture
c. it assumes that the needs of God’s people today are such that prophecy is unnecessary
d. it overlooks that Peter interprets the gift of prophecy given at Pentecost as a fulfilment of Joel’s prediction that “in the last days” believers would exercise this gift (Acts 2:17; Joel 2:28). The “last days” in Scripture are the times of the new covenant: the gift of the Spirit , a new heart and spirit, forgiveness of sins and intimacy with God (Jer 31:31 -33; Ezek 36:26 – 27; Is 43:6; Hos 1:10). Since the “last days” extend from Pentecost to the Second Coming (2 Tim 3:1; Heb 1:2; James 5:3; 1 Peter 1:20; 2 Peter 3:3; 1 John 2;18; Jude 18) we must still be in the era of prophecy.
B: The Marginalisation of Prophecy
1. Some churches accept prophecy in principle but ignore it in practice. This is contrary to Scripture (1 Thess 5:19 -20).
2. Others fail to positively encourage people to seek this gift “zealously” as the Scripture teaches all Christians to do (1 Cor 12:31; 14:112,39).
3. Still others overlook the important place given to prophets in the gift lists of the New Testament (1 Cor 12:28; Eph 2:20; 3:5; 4:11).
4. Spiritual gifts as a whole (especially the 1 Cor 12- 14 list) are no longer practiced in congregational life even in most Pentecostal churches.
5. Even where attention is paid to the prophetic ministry, and it is valued, most emphasis is based on practice and experience and little attention is paid to developing a biblical and theological framework.
2. The Importance of Prophecy
A: Prophets and the Plan of God
Key Text: Acts 3:17 – 23
Key Revelation: “7 days of prayer”
1. prophets have existed from the beginning and will prophesy until the end (Matt 23:35; Luke 11:51 cf. Heb 11:4;12:24; Gen 20:7; Rev 10:7; 18:20,24)
2. the prophetic witness actually constitutes the process by which saving history moves forward and is given inner coherence and meaning; for prophets, God is the God of the plan (Amos 3:7 – 8; Jer 23:22; Dan 9:22; 1Cor 2:6 -7; Eph 3:9, 11; Col 1:26)
3. the testimony of the prophets concerns the plan of God for the restoration of “all things” in Christ, this is the goal which has always been the purpose of God and task of the prophet is to present this message by word or in writing (Eph 1:8b- 10,22; cf. Col 3:9- 11; 1 Cor 3:22 -23)
4. everything prophetic is aimed at the restoration of divine order and purpose so that the counsel and will of God may be effected
5. this is true both of O.T. prophecy (Isa 58:12; Jer 1:10; 3:12; Hos 14:11; Zech 7:7) and N.T. prophecy (Luke 1:76- 79; Mal 4:5 -6; Rev 11:1- 14)
6. prophets therefore have a keen sense of the difference between what is and what should/could be; this is not a natural sense but conveyed by the power of the Spirit (Mic 3:8; 1 Peter 1:11; 2 Peter 1:21; Heb 3:7; 10:15; Acts 4:25; Luke 1:67)
7. prophets speak against all that opposes the plan of God, hence their hatred of idolatry and false prophecy/teaching (1 Ki 18; 22:5 -28; Isa 9:15; Jer 23:11, 15; Am 2:12; Mic 3:11ff; Matt 7:15; 24:11,24; 1 Cor 5:11; 6:9; 10:7; 2 Cor 6:16; 11:12 -15; Gal 1:9; Eph 5:5; Col 3:5; Rev 2:14,20)
B: Prophets and the Father’s Heart
Key Text: John 1:18
Key Revelation: Buenos Aires Airport
1. the ultimate revelation of God is that he is Father (John 14:6 – 8; 1 Cor 8:6; 15:24; Eph 4:6 etc.)
2. prophets are given insight concerning Christ in the plan of God by the Father (1 Cor 12: 28 ; Heb 1:1; Rev 1:1,10 -11)
3. this insight is the essence of revelation and it is revelation that constitutes the inner reality of the prophetic (Acts 11:27 ff; 13:1 – 2; 1 Cor 14:24,25, 30,31; Rev 1:10 -11;4:1 -2; 17:3)
4. prophets proclaim the rule of God (kingdom) in order that it may be extended and deepened (Num 12:8; 1 Sam 8; 15:22 -23; 16:6ff; 2 Sam 12:1ff; Matt 3:2; 4:17,23; Mark 1:15; Acts 1:3, 6-8; 8:12; 1 Cor 4:20 etc.)
5. prophets do not look on things as they appear but by the Spirit search out the “deep things of God” (1 Sam 16:7; 1 Ki 8:39; 1 Chron 28:9; Jer 11:20; 20:12; 1 Cor 2:10 -12; Rev 2:23)
6. since the prophetic Word comes from the heart of God it speaks to the heart of men and women (Acts 2:37; 1 Cor 14:24 – 25; Heb 4:12- 13)
7. prophets prophesy from their spirits not from their minds (1 Cor 14: 6,14- 16,30 -32; Heb 12:9; John 4:1 – 3; Rev 22:6 – 7)
8. prophets see reality from God’s perspective:
a. in the Old Testament this is put in terms of the divine council where God rules (1 Ki 22:19 -22; Job 1:6; Isa 6:1- 7; Jer 23:18- 22)
b. in the New Testament it is related to sharing in the position of the ascended Christ at the right hand of God in heaven (Acts 2:32- 33; 3: 21; Eph 2:6; 3:10; 4:8 -11; Col 3:1; Heb 12: 22- 24; Rev 5)
9. prophets are given to share the divine experience: empathy, pathos, compassion , they therefore communicate what is happening inside of God (Isa 15:5; 16:9,11; 21:2 – 3; 22:4; 42:14; 63:9; Jer 4:18 – 21;8:18- 9:2; 10:19; 14:8- 11; 23:9; 31:20; 48:16, 31 – 36; Ezek 21:6; Mic 1:8; Luke 19:41; Acts 20:31,37; Rom 9:2; 2 Cor 12:21)
C: Prophets and the Testimony of Jesus
Key Text: Revelation 19:10
Key Revelation: Mt Bold Perth
a. as the Word of God, the revealer of the Father and the first and last Jesus is the foundation and climax of the history of revelation which unveils the full truth of God (John 1:1,14,18; 14:6 – 8; Eph 4:21; Heb 1:1- 2; Rev 1:17;19:10; 22:13)
b. all prophecy has Jesus as its subject:
1. O.T. prophecy comes from Jesus (1 Peter 1:10 -11); concerns Jesus as Messiah (2 Sam 7:1- 17; Ps 2; 22; 110; Isa 9:1- 7; 11:1 -11; 52:13- 53:12 etc.) and finds its fulfilment in Jesus (Acts 13:27,40; 24:14; 26:22)
2. Jesus is the one true witness to the Father (John 3:11,32 -33; 8:40; 18:37; 1 Tim 6:13; Rev 1:5; 3:14; 19:11)
3. the New Testament is a record of the apostolic – prophetic witness to Jesus (Matt 1:1,11- 12; Mark 1:1, 6 -8; Luke 3:15 -17; John 20:30 -31; Acts 1:8; 2:22ff; 3:1ff; 1 Cor 1:6; Rev 1:2; 2:9 etc)
c. prophetic action arises out of concern for the lordship of God exercised through Christ in history (Acts 13:1 – 3, 9- 11; 1 Cor 12:3; Rev 1:10)
d. where Jesus’ kingdom is the central object of concern the Spirit of God is poured out in power so that men and women prophesy (Acts 1:3,6,8, 14; 2:4, 11; 17 -21; 19:6; 1 Cor 12:3)
e. this is because it is the role of the Spirit to reveal the truth which is in Jesus and to bring him glory (John 16:12- 15)
f. testimony to Jesus is the central action of the followers of Jesus (John 15:26 -27; Acts 1:8,22; 2:17ff,32, 3:15; 4:33; 1 Cor 1:6; 2 Thess 1:10; 1 Peter 5:1; Rev 1:2,9; 6:9; 11:1- 13; 12:11 etc. )
g. what is actually prophesied is the witness of Jesus to who God is and what he has done and is doing for the salvation and restoration of humanity; that is the total gospel message
h. the prophetic tension arises out of sharing with Jesus what he knows about both the condition of humanity and the glorious inheritance God has prepared for it; this involves both a participation in a cross and a share in the power of the resurrection (Phil 3:10)
i. none of this is merely intellectual (1 Cor 4:20; 1 Thess 1:5) but is conveyed by the Spirit to the prophet so that the prophet has the power of the testimony of Jesus alive in themselves (1 John 2:20,27; 5:6 – 12)
j. the union between the Holy Spirit , Jesus and the prophet is so intimate that where one begins and another ends cannot be neatly divided; as such, believers may speak as the “mouthpiece of God” (1 Peter 4:11; Rom 8:10 -11; 1 Cor 14:2; Rev 1:10; 1 Cor 12:4 -11)
3. The Purpose of Prophecy
a. they prepare God’s people for the servant work of his kingdom (Luke 1:16- 17; Eph 4:11)
b. their word of witness to God’s Messiah conveys conviction from God about sin, righteousness and judgement. (Luke 1:75- 79; 3:3 -18; John 16:8; 1 Cor 14:24ff; cf. Rev 2:1 – 3:22)
c. they hate and oppose false teaching and idolatry (Matt 7:15; 24:11,24; 1 Cor 5:11; 6:9; 10:7; 2 Cor 6:16; 11:12 -15; Gal 1:9; Eph 5:5; Col 3:5; Rev 2:14,20)
d. they bring:
1. strengthening (1 Cor 14:3,5,17)
2. encouragement (Acts 15:32; 1 Cor 14:3)
3. consolation (Acts 15:32; 1 Cor 14:3)
4. direction (Acts 13:1- 4; 1 Tim 1:18; 4:14)
5. confirmation (Acts 20:22 -23; 21:11)
6. exhortation (Acts 11:23)
Questions for reflection on The Nature and Purpose of Prophecy Today
1. What did I find most confusing about the presentation?
2. What did I find most helpful?
3. How important is prophecy in the light of the study today?
4. Are the 3 main sections of the study intensely real to me?
A. The Plan of God to restore everything to its true order.
B. The Heart of the Father and its compassionate longing for humanity.
C. The Testimony of Jesus as central to everything in God’s kingdom.
5. If not, what should I do about it?