“The office of the prophet is probably the least-understood and most-neglected ministry office in the Church today. If we refuse to receive an apostle, we refuse order. However, if we refuse to receive a prophet, we refuse destiny. Where there is no destiny there is no future. The Church then becomes relegated to the narrow existence of the here and now. The prophet is the key to the Church’s destiny and power.” – Robert Stone
I. The Call and Commitment of the Prophet (Jeremiah 1:4-10)
A. What a prophet must hear (4-5) – “Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
B. What a prophet must recognize (6-8) – “Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” 7 But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the LORD.”
C. What a prophet will accomplish (9-10) – “Then the LORD put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the LORD said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”
• Shepherds – relational leaders
• Teachers – instructional leaders
• Fishers – evangelistic leaders
• Generals – apostolic leaders
Prophets are pneumatic leaders (Holy Spirit people)
II. The Life and Work of the Prophet
- Acts 2:17 – “In the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.”
- Revelation 19:10 – “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
- 1 Corinthians 14: 1-4 – “Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy…the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation…the one who prophesies builds up the church.”
- Mark 6:4 – And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.”
- Psalm 105:14-15 – “He allowed no one to oppress them; He rebuked kings on their account, 15 saying, “Touch not My anointed ones, do My prophets no harm!”
III. The Diversity Among the Prophets
- Noah – prophetic judgment
- Joseph & Daniel – prophetic dreamers
- Moses & Deborah – prophetic leading
- Samuel – prophetic government
- Nathan – prophetic counsel
- Elijah – prophetic confrontation
- Elisha – prophetic miracles
- Tabernacle musicians (1 Samuel 25) – prophetic worship
- Jeremiah – prophetic pleading
- John the Baptist – prophetic preparation
- Philip’s 4 daughters – prophetic women
- Peter, Paul, John, James – prophetic writers
- Unnamed NT prophets – prophetic building
- School of the prophets – prophetic students in training
Not all prophets works miracles or signs
John 10:41 – “John {the baptist} did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.”
Most of the prophets in Scripture are not recorded as doing miraculous signs and wonders. From this we recognize that the priority for the prophet is the message, and a possibility for the prophet is the miracles.
All who hold the Office of the Prophet will speak and/or write what God communicates to them.
“Both the office of the apostle and the office of the prophet are fundamental. Without order, the prophetic gift will lead God’s people to fanaticism. Without the prophet, the apostolic gift will lead God’s people to so much structure that there is nothing left except form without life.” – Robert Stone
IV. The Raising & Release of the Prophets (Amos 3:7-8)
“For the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets. The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken, who can but prophesy?”