1 Samuel 9:9 “Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he spoke thus: "Come, let us go to the seer"; for he who is now called a prophet was formerly called a seer.”
We have already listed the nine gifts of the Spirit in the previous section (1 Corinthians 12: 7-10). And so in this section we want to discuss the spiritual gifts that form part of the prophet’s ministry, for as with all the ministry gifts, there are certain spiritual gifts that form part of the ministry of the prophet. In the above quoted passage of scripture we see that in the Old Testament that a prophet was also called a seer. The reason that prophets were called seers was because they would see and know things supernaturally. That same principle applies to the ministry of the prophet in the church today. They will see and know things supernaturally, and as we have already seen, they operate in revelation knowledge. There are three revelation gifts listed among the nine gifts of the Spirit. Those gifts are the word of knowledge, the word of wisdom, and the discerning of spirits. It is therefore self evident that the revelation gifts should form part of the ministry of the prophet. And so by looking at examples of prophets in the New Testament we will be able to determine if the revelation gifts form part of the prophet’s ministry today. The two examples of prophets that we will examine are Agabus, and the first seventeen years of Paul’s ministry. The reason we will examine the first seventeen years of Paul’s ministry, is because it was during that period that he operated in the ministry of the prophet.
1 Corinthians 14:5 “I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.”
There are three speaking gifts listed among the nine gifts of the Spirit. Those gifts are prophecy, different kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues. It is self evident that prophecy will always be one of the spiritual gifts that form part of the prophet’s ministry. Some prophets however, also have the gift of different kinds of tongues and the interpretation of tongues, operating through their ministries. For as revealed in the above quoted passage of scripture, these two gifts operating together are on the same level as the gift of prophecy.
1 Corinthians 14:3 “But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.”
Just for clarity, I need to state that there are many saints that operate in the gift of prophecy. Having the gift of prophecy however, does not make one a prophet, for prophecy is just one of the spiritual gifts’ that form part of the ministry gift of the prophet. As revealed in the above quoted passage of scripture, anyone who has the gift of prophecy will be used by the Holy Spirit to prophesy edification, exhortation and comfort to the church. And so when a prophet prophesies, the Holy Spirit will use him in the same manner.
Acts 11:27-28 “And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. (28) Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar.”
We will first examine the prophet Agabus’ ministry. On occasions when the prophet prophesies, the Holy Spirit will take him into a deeper anointing, and he will prophecy more than just simple words of edification, exhortation and comfort. As we can see in the above quoted example, when the prophet Agabus prophesied on this occasion, the Holy Spirit used him to reveal a global event that was about to take place. In other words Agabus also operated in the gift of the word of knowledge when he delivered this prophecy. And so the Lord used His prophet through the gift of prophecy, to warn His church so that they could prepare for this event. This level of prophecy is far deeper and has a greater anointing than normal prophecies given in the church, and God only uses the prophet in this deeper anointing of prophecy.
Michael E.B. Maher
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