UNDERSTANDING PROPHECY PART 2. The Prophet

UNDERSTANDING THE PROPHETIC PART 2. THE PROPHET

In the part one of this series, we looked at what prophecy is all about and what it takes to prophesy. We also saw that when a man has the Spirit, he can prophesy by the Spirit. Click here to read part 1 before you continue if you have not read it.
In this part , we will be looking at who a prophet is, difference between a prophet and the gift of prophecy. We will also look at the validity of the office of a prophet.

WHO A PROPHET IS
A prophet is someone who speak for another. He is a spokesman for another.  In Exodus 7:1  the Lord said to Moses, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh And Aaron your brother shall be your prophet. That is Aaron shall be your spokesman. The word prophet is from the Hebrew word nâbı̂y. It means a spokesman, an inspired speaker, a prophet. In the Old testament books of the Bible, we see that prophets were major means God speak to people. This is because the Spirit of God was not living in anyone yet. So people inquire from prophets to know what the Lord is saying. The hallmark of a prophet is the ability to foretell. A prophet can see what will happen in the future. All the prophets we see in the Scriptures has the ability to foretell.  For example, in 1 kings 22, when the King of Israel wanted to go war, Jehoshaphat King of Judea said to him,” is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him? “ 1Kings 22 : 7.  So we see that prophets can be enquired from. This is because they are God's spokesmen. The same way we have prophets of God, we also have false prophets of idols. People that speak for idols. Like the prophets of Baal we see in 1 kings 18. Never forget a prophet is someone who speak for another.

But man of God now that the Spirit has been given, does it not mean that the office of the Prophet has past?
Let’s LOOK AT THE VALIDITY OF THE OFFICE OF A PROPHET NOW
Let’s look at what the Bible says about Prophets in the new testament after the Spirit has been given. Never forget in the part one of this series we established that every Christian can prophesy because every Christian has the Spirit of God. All it takes to prophesy is to have the Spirit. Now that every Christian can prophesy, does it mean every Christian is a prophet?
Let’s look at  Acts of the Apostles. In Acts we see some specific persons were called prophets among believers, though every one of them has the Spirit and could prophesy.
Acts 13
1  Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
Notice there were certain prophets among the believers in Antioch. So not all were prophets and teachers. It was certain of them like Barnabas and Simeon called Niger.
Acts 15
32  And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them
In Acts 15 we see that certain persons were also called prophets. Judas and Silas were called Prophets. Prophet here referred to particular persons.

Acts 21
8  And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
9  And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
10  And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. (Compare)
11  And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
In the above scriptures,  we see first that Philip's daughters could prophesy. But they were not called prophet. The same place mentions a certain prophet called Agabus who foretold what will happen to Paul in Jerusalem. Notice the use of the word CERTAIN. So it was a particular person called prophet. Though we had other people who could prophesy like Philip daughters.
From all of these  references,  we can safely say THAT THE OFFICE OF THE PROPHET IS STILL VALID TILL now. Though the covenant has changed, there are STILL prophets.
Now let’s look at another scripture to buttress this further.
Ephesians 4
8  Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. note
9  (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
10  He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) note
11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: note note
14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
In Christ ascension into our heart, he gave gifts to men. Notice verse 9 and 10 is in bracket. It is added to explain the ascension of Christ. Verse 11 goes ahead to mention the gift given to men. So Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists,  Pastors and Teachers are the gifts. The GIFTS ARE MEN. A prophet is not someone that has the gift of prophecy, though a prophet prophesies. A prophet is THE GIFT. The others have the gift of prophecy, but this one is the gift. A prophet can do a thousand times of what someone with the gift of prophecy can do. Notice he GAVE SOME PROPHET,  so not all are prophets but all can prophesy by the Spirit. 
Notice verse 13 explains the ESSENCE of  ministry gifts. It is to perfect the saints. It is for the furnishing of the saints. It's when the saints are perfected that they do the work of ministry. Notice verse 13 and 14 says that these gifts will continue to perfect saints till we all come to measure of the stature of Christ. TO SAY THE OFFICE OF THE PROPHET IS NO MORE VALID IS TO SAY THAT ALL  CHRISTIANS HAS COME TO THE FULL STATURE OF CHRIST, which is not true.  Therefore the office of the Prophet is still very much valid even now that the Spirit has been given.

A prophet is an extension of Christ. He is a spokesman for Christ. This means that any prophet now that speaks anything contrary to  what Christ has done is not being a spokesman of Christ.  This is where we have a lot of abuses in the office. We have so many prophets  who have forgotten that they are appointed into the office by Christ to speak on  behalf of Christ. A prophet is not a spokesman of sin, he is not a spokesman for the devil, he is not a spokesman for politics. If he must talk about any of this, it must be in reference to what Christ has done or who we are in Christ.  Any man not doing this is not called, or is not fulfilling his prophetic Ministry. We will dwell more on this in the next part of this series when we talk about new testament prophetic ministry and the essence of prophecy.
Worthy of note also is that a prophet in equipping the saints must teach. The idea of  God setting out some as gifts is to equip the rest. A prophet is not a performer. He is not suppose to go about prophesying to astonish people. He ought to build up the people. He that is not teaching the message of Christ is not in ministry at all. For more on this read my post on THE TRUTH ONLY, part one, part two and part three. So a prophet must understand that he is called to build up believers.
Is it wrong to consult a prophet now that we have the Spirit in us? No. We can ask the Prophet for what the Lord is saying. But, if all you do is to inquire from a prophet every time, you are missing it. Then you are acting as if you are not a new creation. You should be able to hear God in that you have the Spirit of God.
Some people have been heard saying all that a prophet does now is to confirm what you already know. This is not true. A prophet can tell you what you don’t know. But it must resonate in your spirit. It must minister peace to you. Let’s look at Prophet Agabus in Acts for example. Acts 11:28  And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. 
Notice that no reference of the believers knowing  about the famine  before Prophet Agabus prophesied it. But they acted immediately after the prophecy. 
A prophet is known by revelation and the spirituals. The revelation gifts like word of knowledge, word of wisdom, and discerning of  spirits are natural giftings of the Prophet.  This does nkt mean anyone that operate in this gifts is a prophet.  Any prophet that cannot see and foretell is either he is not a prophet or he has not develop himself to use his innate abilities. A prophet ought to answer, the question why the spirit realm. There is more to the office of a prophet that we know. We must maximise this gift(men) given to us.
Subsequently we will look at the importance of prophecy , how to prophesy, and new testament prophetic ministry. 
Stay blessed.

There is a rise of new covenant prophets who are sound in the spirituals and in the gospel of Christ. We are privileged to be in this generation. We must not allow the devil remove our attention from the real men because of the fakes. It is a new dawn of the Spirit.

By OBIAZIKWOR EMEKE MODESTY