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NASB | Matthew 11:13 "For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 11:13 "For all the prophets and the Law prophesied up until John. |
Bible Question:
The following was posted on 03-24-2001. "Being especially wary of people who claim to be Apostle or Prophets. Jesus warns us to beware of people who say, "I am He". I agree. I would also like to add the following. The Word tells us to prove the spirits. 1 John 4:1 (ASV) "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world." What is the test of a true prophet? It is very simple. Deut 18:22 (RSV) "when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously, you need not be afraid of him." . . . On the other hand, the existence of false prophets does not preclude (rule out in advance) the existence of true prophets. Don't throw out the baby with the bath water. |
Bible Answer: I have done some study and teaching on gifts, and I would like to add my thoughts. I hope they inspire yours. First let me give you my framework, I agree with the idea that there are different types of gifts, the ones listed in Romans 12 and the ones listed in I Cor 12. Both of these lists have prophets listed. The gifts listed in Rom 12 have been called "Motivational" gifts(Don and Katie Fortune, Discovering you God-Given Gifts). These have to do with the way the person functions in day to day life, to simplify. The list in I cor 12 are gifts given briefly for ministry, and come and go as the Spirit seems fit. This latter group are the "Charismatic" gifts of tongues, healings etc. The brief use of the gift of prophecy is what I where I would look for the test to come true but also the edifying that is spoken of elsewhere. The Rom 12 list has more to do with the makeup of the person. A prophet here is one who "sees everything as black or white", and needs "truth to be established in every situation" These prophets have always existed because that is part of the makeup of the human being. The gift of prophecy of 1 Cor 12 has to do with God moving according to His purpose. I cannot see that as ever ending either. God's purpose has been going forward since the beginning of time. I personally experienced some of these gifts and walked in them, before I understood that there was a name for them. Now my experience didn't validate the gift, because I just thought that happened to all believers that were in communion with God. The closer I walked the more that I experienced God, and the more I understood of His word, the more I realized that these were spoken of in his word. I had almost figured it out and I was introduced to an explanation from people who had studied it. When you look for prophets remember that Paul called a poet a prophet in Titus. Look at the songwriter that encourages you, that exposes wrong thinking, that exalts God, are they not part of the prophets of this day? They seem to fit Paul's definition and wasn't that what King David was, a prophet? The psalms are the songbook of Israel. Prophets and prophecy are alive and well today, but do we have eyes to see and ears to hear? May God richly bless all who read this. |