The Office of the Prophet is one of the fivefold leadership ministries that Jesus set up in the church (Eph. 4:11). The office of a prophet is a calling from God to be a prophet, and to be an overseer of prophets. He is not only God’s mouthpiece who speaks through divine inspiration to build up the church, he also is tasked to train the next generation of prophets and to make significant decisions for the church movement.
The following are specific functions of the Office of the Prophet that we will distinguish in this chapter:
The prophet is also called to use his vision to give wisdom, to encourage, and to increase the faith of the Body of Christ. He can minister beyond the local church. The prophet’s role is not to be a spiritual officer who guards against people who sin. Instead, he ministers with love and compassion, as he reveals God’s plan and purpose for people’s lives in agreement with the Word of God.
Since every believer in the New Testament received the Helper—the Holy Spirit—we are not completely dependent on prophets for direction like it was in the Old Testament (Rom. 8:14). As a New Testament church, we are blessed with the Holy Spirit. However, the Holy Spirit still uses prophets today to do necessary work, but even then, what they must say cannot contradict the Bible and the inward witness of the Holy Spirit.
In other words, the plans and purposes of God must not be confused between what God is personally telling you and the prophetic word you receive. Usually, this prophetic word will be a confirmation or a source of peace of what the Holy Spirit has been telling you all along. These prophets must not be people with bad tempers, who curses, and who calls down the fire of God upon people. Elijah may be like this, but he is not our role model, Christ is—he is the compassionate prophet (2 Kgs. 1:10; Lk. 9:54-56).
According to Ephesians 4:12, all of the ministry gifts are given for the sharpening of the saints. When does prophecy and all these other spiritual gifts end? They will cease to be necessary when the church is perfect. Perfection comes when we are reunited with Jesus in Heaven. Some believers reject the idea that God is still calling people into the Office of the Prophet. However, Scripture does not support this position because the church is still being perfected until the second coming of Jesus.
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