I often warn you because Jesus did warn us of the false Prophets.  Recently, I sent you something to consider and in its title I told you that there are real prophets among the false.  Today, we are going to consider the concept, of true prophets in this our day?  We need to understand this, because many among us believe that the gifts are no longer for our days.  Earlier this week, I introduced you to this subject, with A short section of a Spurgeon message, where he informs us of what Jesus said on this very subject. 

If the Holy Spirit is to show us what is to come as Spurgeon preached; then how does He do that?  Some would tell us that it is only with the use of the Scriptures. You know that I love the Scriptures.  Some would say that it is only through the prophets.  You do know that some are false.  

So we must draw our conclusion and include the word of God in this understanding. Actually it will tell us what is true concerning the gift needed to see what is coming. 

“…He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me…” – John 16:13,14

Jesus said this.  Yet, It often gets lost amid the word salad of some sermon.  If there are false prophets then must there not also be true prophets.  If I learn of things to come from Him (The Holy Spirit) who will tell those things to the world.  Will it be (me, you and others who are of this body of Christ) who will give out in message form those things to come; so then there must be prophecy, and thus prophets. But even the true prophet must be tested. 

1 Thessalonians 5:20  Despise not prophesyings.  21  Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (KJV)

Paul in Ephesians 2, is telling us who we now are in Christ. In this chapter he makes a profound statement amidst many profound statements:

Ephesians 2:20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; (KJV)

Jesus was and is the cornerstone of a body whose foundation Paul tells us included Prophets.  So since the foundation is already laid do we still need Prophets?  Ask yourself this question: are we in this body still in need often of knowing what is coming?  Even if there were no stated prophets within the church today, would not the Holy Spirit, who Jesus stated is to tell us of things to come; would He not still be doing that. In fact, this promise is to every believer who has ever been baptized into His body and filled with His Spirit.  It is He who is, in fact, our teacher.  He is God, He knows the future. 

If you are not being convicted and directed for your future by Him; then you need to be asking why?  For these are evil days when prophets of the false variety are prevalent perversely teaching things that they want us to believe (if not even requiring the belief of these things).  They want us to accept that God has somehow changed.  He apparently doesn’t know any longer how to make them male and female as He said that He created them. Those teaching such are false prophets explaining or at least believing their own sermons that man and woman can be multiple personalities.  When that happened in Jesus day, there were demons involved, and they were cast out. 

Amos 3:7  Surely the Lord GOD does nothing Unless He reveals His secret counsel To His servants the prophets. (NASB1995)

This verse is also a profound verse for its revelation to us is clear that if God is involved in our world today; then there are prophets to reveal that to us, (those who want to know) need to know what He is about doing. 

I included a caveat here. For Jesus made clear that a man who wants to find, must search for that thing. “Search and you will find”.  Many today do not want to see anything new from God; and many others see only what they want to see, without any searching. If God is at work in our world; then there are prophets. 

In fact God wants you and I to seek the higher gifts. 

1 Corinthians 12:1  Now concerning spiritual [gifts,] brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.2  You know that when you were pagans, [you were] led astray to the mute idols, however you were led. (NASB1995)

Have you noticed yet that scripture is profound?  Paul is not subtle in his teaching that “you were led” by something outside of yourself, before you came to Christ.  Now you are led by God’s Spirit’s gifting to you His gifts. So Paul here is teaching on the gifts that now lead you and here we see this prophecy gift:

1 Corinthians 12:10  and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another [various] kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. (NASB1995)

Prophecy is a gift, if prophecy was a foundational gift as we have seen above; then it must be a highly respected and necessary  gift from our God.  It would be a higher or greater gift of which Paul now speaks:

1 Corinthians 12:31  But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way. (NASB1995)

Any gift that God gives us no matter how great we are told by Paul  (next in Chapter 13) must be administered in love. 

“For God so loved the world.”Understand God loved the world enough to die for it. But understand also that that was not in order to leave it like it was, but to take it on to His likeness. He created it like Himself without sin. We are not to love ourselves as sinners but to love what we are becoming in Christ.  We are to love our fellow man as ourselves, wanting him to also become as we are becoming. 

We are to desire the gifts. If one has the gift of prophecy first test them; then respect them as a gifted prophet. If they are false call them out. The Spirit within you will bear witness with the Spirit that is within him/her.  Always be on guard that your desires do not get in the way of the truth that is from God. 

1 Corinthians 12:28  And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, [various] kinds of tongues. (NASB1995)

Find your gift.  Discerning the spirits, as listed here, is a very necessary gift in our day.