I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.  - 1Corinthians 14: 18-19 (NIV)

But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!"  - 1Corinthians 14: 24-25 (NIV)

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.  - Hebrews 1: 1-2 (NIV)

As the end times grow darker and closer we see the influence of evil continue to infiltrate the church to even deceive the elect of God. This is nothing that has not been foretold by the Bible and we should be aware and alert regarding it. I understand that the notion of a New Testament prophetic culture has many sitting under deception. I know that this is a sacred cow to many in their churchianity. I understand why. It feels right. It looks right. There are enough Scriptures that can be ripped out of context and cobbled together to make it seem right. Many will know a "prophet" or "apostle" personally and will take offense. That is a shame because at the end of the day what should matter to us is what the Word of God says. Whenever I have debates in this area, inevitably the other person ends up defending man while I try to hold the Bible up as the plumb line. 

I want to be clear. I am not saying that the gift of prophecy is not in operation. It clearly is according to Scripture. Most cessationists will readily admit that it is the abuses of the gifts of the Spirit that led them to believe they were only intended for the Apostolic Age. If that were the case, what do we make of this:

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.  - 1Corinthians 14: 1 (NIV)

I find it very difficult to believe that an omniscient God would allow this to be in the canon of Scripture if it were only meant for people who lived 200 years before the canon of Scripture was decided. No, the issue is not prophecy but how it is being misused in the church. Likewise, the office of Prophet is not closed either. I used to think differently but given all of the admonitions against false prophets in the New Testament, it would seem logical once again to assume there must be true prophets. I have to be careful to not fall into the trap cessationists are prey to. Where the abuse of something of God leads me to wish it simply is not in operation anymore. No, the issue is not the office of Prophet but those who claim they hold it. Invariably, they are false by nature. They do not point people to Jesus but to themselves. They perform for personal gain. At the heart of the leaven is one of the greatest poisons infecting the church today - divine revelation. 

If you peel back the onion that is modern prophet-wannabes you inevitably will come to some form of divine revelation. This is the notion that they are not to be questioned because they heard what they are saying from God Himself! The New Apostolic Reformation claims they specifically heard from God in 1999 and He instructed them to band together. The Kansas City Prophets go back into the 1980's when Mike Bickle claims God instructed him to build the International House of Prayer. Bill Johnson out at Bethel Church in California claims divine impartation and visitations, something he then teaches at his "school of the supernatural." Many of your false teachers also claim this nonsense. Joseph Prince claims God gave him his great revelation of grace. People like Benny Hinn, Cindy Jacobs, and Todd Bentley all claim divine revelation. Let's face it - it makes it a lot easier to deal with critics to simply point up and say He told me! 

Besides this divine revelation scheme, there is also the notion of a "paradigm shift" from the Old Testament to the New Testament regarding the prophetic. Realize beloved, this is the only way the schemers can operate. They have to believe that the rules for prophecy have changed now that we live under the new covenant. That is because in the Old Testament it only took one wrong prophecy to be exposed as being false. To hear the new guns tell it, you can be 35% wrong and still be a pretty good prophet! So despite the fact that God is the same yesterday, today and forever, they claim there was a paradigm shift in the prophetic ministry once we entered the new covenant. That in the Old Testament the Prophet was the mouthpiece of God but in the New, he/she is just there to build the church up in unity. That the Old Testament was a period of judgment and law and the New is all puppies and unicorns - hallelujah! This is to cover up of course the absurd nature of modern prophecies; which are nothing more than clairvoyancy and doctrines of demons. Benny Hinn once prophesied Fidel Castro would die somewhere in the 1990s and despite giving himself a ten year window - he was still wrong. In 1996 Cindy Jacobs prophesied that the Christian divorce rate would be cut in half within one year...oops. Just this year someone claiming to be an apostle-prophet said that God had confirmed in his Spirit that the Denver Broncos would win the Super Bowl. They went on to lose 43-8! That is a 50-50 shot and he still was wrong by 35 points! This is not prophecy beloved - it is fortune telling and witchcraft. It is not supported anywhere in Scripture - neither is the notion of a paradigm shift in the prophetic culture of the church. As with so many of the gifts may I proffer the notion that we simply are doing it wrong. Heading to our key verses, let us start with the difference between the two covenants and their relationship to prophecy:

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.  - Hebrews 1: 1-2 (NIV)

In the Old Testament, God spoke to His people through His prophets. There were no Bibles. There were no printing presses to run off copies of the Torah. Much was passed on through verbal history. Prophets did not guess future events like they were looking into a crystal ball. They declared what God was saying - period! When Nathan went to David he revealed his sin to him. When Elijah declared the upcoming drought it was in direct response to the evil ways of King Ahab. The ways of not obeying what God had said; like David with Bathsheba. They did not prophesy rainbows and kittens because they were there to say what sayeth the Lord! Now however the author of Hebrews writes, all things go through the Words of Jesus Christ, who held the Office of Prophet for us. Jesus left us His Word - the revealed will of God for our lives! I know Christians so hooked on the false prophetic. Chasing it day in and day out - always seeking a "fresh word." If you want a fresh Word - open your Bible! In Revelation God warns us to add nothing to the prophecy contained in the Word! What then is the role of prophet in the New Testament church? What is the role of prophecy? I think the answers are found in 1Corinthians 14 and the remaining two key verse sets. The first explains the purpose of a prophetic word:

I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.  - 1Corinthians 14: 18-19 (NIV)

Did you catch that beloved? Intelligible words to instruct others. Instruct others. What in the Bible are we pointed to for instruction?

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.  - 2Timothy 3: 16-17 (NKJV)

It is the same paradigm as in the Old Testament! The revealed Word of God instructs us now, where the Prophets of old used to. It is still seeking what sayeth the Lord! Instruction in righteousness so that we may be prepared, equipped, and ready. Many of those that prop up the false paradigm shift use the verses from earlier in this chapter that read:

But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.  - 1Corinthians 14: 3-4 (NIV)

They use these verses to directly imply that because we now live under grace and not law, that prophets are to only bring warm fuzzy words from God to strengthen, encourage, and comfort the church. There is so much wrong with this interpretation one does not know where to even start but let's start with the simple fact that the law does not disappear because of grace. Jesus said He came to fulfill the law and not a dot of it will disappear. It is only the cheap grace merchants that try and sell us on the notion that we can safely forget God's law because of God's grace. Perhaps the more insulting notion however is that the words brought forth from the Prophets of old were somehow not strengthening, encouraging, or comforting. David may not have wanted to hear what the Prophet Nathan had to say but he sure needed to hear it! If we are seeking to be strengthened it should be in the Lord. If we are seeking to be encouraged it should be in the Lord. If we are to be comforted it should be in the Lord. Not in the empty prattle of someone trying to make us feel good. The Gospel message of repentance may not seem encouraging to those that are perishing but it is life everlasting to those who embrace it! In her 2014 inaugural "prophetic" message Cindy Jacobs promised that 2014 will be a year of double blessing, anointing, portion, and prosperity. She claimed this because God allegedly told her so because 14 equals two sevens and everyone knows seven is the number of completion for God! Besides the stupidity of the notion that everyone who hears her message will have a year of double blessing and prosperity how in the world is this edifying at all? Because it feeds the flesh? Because it makes us greedy? Because it turns God into our own cosmic ATM? Please. If you want to move in the prophetic you need to move in the Word of God. You need to be pointing out Scriptures that apply to our current life situations. That is what will strengthen the body of Christ. That is what will edify believers. All comfort and encouragement is found in the Word of God. Still not sure? Let's look at the last key set of verses:

But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!"  - 1Corinthians 14: 24-25 (NIV)

What convicts us of sin beloved? The Holy Spirit by leading us into all truth. It is the Holy Spirit who takes what is spiritual and makes it known to us. Here is Jesus explaining it. Look for the prophetic culture He speaks of:

"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.  - John 16: 12-15 (NKJV)

He will tell you things to come. From where? From the Word of God; not some dime store charlatan. He will glorify God! He will take what is of God, namely His Word, and declare it to you! What lays bare the secrets of our hearts? The Word of God which is sharper than a two edged sword! What will cause us to fall down and worship? A revelation of God provided through His Word! 

Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace--as in all the congregations of the Lord's people.  - 1Corinthians 14: 29-33 (NIV)

What is being weighed carefully? Scripture! Does the Prophet speak what sayeth the Lord or not? Prophesy is not some deep dark mystical experience. These verses say we all can take turns prophesying so that everyone is instructed and encouraged! Not with numerological nonsense and false predictions meant to tickle our ears but with solid Biblical truths meant to edify us, encourage us, strengthen us, and comfort us. I do not need a new revelation when God has already given me His! I do not need a new word when God has already given me His! We have the Spirit of the greatest prophet who ever lived inside of us and we are chasing men and women who promote themselves instead of God? I can guarantee you this. A true prophet of God is too busy telling you what God said to care whether you call him or her a prophet. The Apostle Paul never introduced himself as "The Apostle Paul." How do I know this? Because the Bible tells me he always viewed himself as the least of the apostles because he once persecuted the church. I leave you with the concluding words of this chapter we have examined today regarding prophets and prophecies:

Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command. But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.  - 1Corinthians 14: 36-38 (NIV)

Many who parade themselves as prophets do claim the word originated with them. They claim that the predictions were theirs. Divinely inspired of course but glorifying themselves first and foremost. The Word of God did not originate with them at all beloved. We all have access to it now and the Spirit inside of us to guide us into all truth. In the last days God is still speaking to us through His Son and through His Gospel. Turn aside from the myths of men who claim a paradigm shift when the Bible never says there was one. There was no need for one. God did not change. His Word did not change. If anyone dares to ignore this - they themselves should be ignored. 

Reverend Anthony Wade - April 15, 2014