what makes a prophet?

[OzSpen]

... Often a prophet will speak of spiritual things, impossible to prove. They will also tell you what comes into their mind, requiring interpretation. Then the prophet under pressure may interpret their own vision incorrectly if knowledge of the meaning is not granted to them.

Iforrest,

That describes 2 gifts of the spirit - the gift of tongues and the gift of interpretation (see 1 Cor 14:13-14 HCSB).

"But the one who prophesies speaks to people edification and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church" (1 Cor 14:3-4 LEB).

"if all prophesy, and some unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is judged by all, the secret things of his heart become evident, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God, proclaiming, “God is truly among you!” (1 Cor 14:24-25 LEB).

According to 1 Cor 14:29 (LEB), 'Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said'.

In these verses from 1 Cor 14 regarding prophecies, there are criteria given by which the others can 'weigh carefully what is said'. Those criteria are:

• Does it bring edification for the people?
• Is encouragement of God's people contained in the prophecy?
• Consolation (i.e. comfort) is another way to judge the validity of a prophecy.
• Unbelievers will be convicted, judged and the secret things of the heart become evident;
• Unbelievers will worship God by 'falling on their faces';
• Their worship of God will be made manifest by exclaiming, 'God is truly among us'.

While some of these criteria are subjective, I would not place them in the category of 'impossible to prove'. If they are impossible to prove, why is the Lord calling those in the church to 'weigh carefully' the content of the prophecy? They couldn't weigh carefully, evaluate what is said (NLT), 'let the others pass judgment' (NASB), 'let the other judge' (KJV), 'let the others weigh what is said' (NRSV), or 'let the others discern' (YLT), if they were 'impossible to prove'.

Oz

 

[Nomad]

Nomad,

That's the Old Covenant. The New Covenant's criteria are different because NT prophecy is not the same as OT prophecy.

I Cor 14:3-7 (NIV) states:

But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. 4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.​

The criteria for assessing NT prophecy are: strengthening, encouraging and comforting the church. In fact I Cor 14 states that all prophecies were delivered in the NT church.

Further criteria are given in 1 Cor 14: 24-25 (NIV);

But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”​

Other criteria involve the response of unbelievers when there is prophecy:

• convicted of sin,
• brought under judgment,
• secrets of their hearts are laid bare,
• they fall down and worship God.

There also is the need to 'weigh carefully' the content of the prophecy in the church gathering:

'Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.... Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said' (1 Cor 14:26, 29 NIV).​

In 1 Cor 14, nothing is stated about NT prophecy being predictive. It is a word from God that is designed to strengthen, encourage, and comfort people.

Oz

What you presented is a description of function, not marks of authenticity, (i.e. true prophet vs. false prophet), which is what the OP requested. Also, the idea that "Old testament prophesy is not the same as New Testament prophesy" is incorrect. OT prophets also uttered words of strengthening, encouragement and comfort, along with warnings and admonition. Such things are not peculiar to the NT. And NT prophets did in fact utter predictive prophesy. Paul, John and Peter are good examples of this. This was not limited to Apostles.

Act 11:27 Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.
Act 11:28 And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius).

Act 21:10 While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
Act 21:11 And coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, 'This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'"

 

[DPMartin]

We are given the basic criteria in Deuteronomy.

Deu 18:21 And if you say in your heart, 'How may we know the word that the LORD has not spoken?'—
Deu 18:22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.

Deu 13:1 "If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder,
Deu 13:2 and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, 'Let us go after other gods,' which you have not known, 'and let us serve them,'
Deu 13:3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the LORD your God is testing you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

there is no doubt that what Moses wrote down is true, but the bottom line is God proves the prophet. simple as that. God proves, witness, so on and so forth that this person that is His He walks with. consider what the Lord did that proved Moses to be with the Almighty to the people in the desert.

hence the works Jesus spoke of when He said something to the effect that if you don't believe Him believe the works. works being the miracles and such, that are only of God. even the OT prophets where respected in the same fashion where as people would come to them for requests that only God could fulfill. such as the king that washed himself seven times in the Jorden to be cleansed of leprosy. the proof is the Lord God.

 

[Windmillcharge]

I don't think every preacher or pastor is a prophet.
Being a prophet is one of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
The "Gift of Prophesy".

No every preacher isn't a prophet.

 

[Windmillcharge]

that doesn't change a thing I said dose it Windmillcharge?

I think it does if the preacher is a man of God sensitive to the leading of the Spirit, rather than a well train essay writer.

 

[Triumph1300]

No every preacher isn't a prophet.

Depends what he's preaching on.

 

[Helen]

That relates to OT prophets. Please show me from the NT that prophecy dealt with prediction.

Yes, I agree for sure.

 

[Helen]

I believe the gift of being a prophet, exercised in the local assembly, can involve predictions. Just not to the adding of Scripture.

Stranger

Agree

I think we often think " one person = one gift. But many people in the body of Christ have more than one gift. If that prophet has the gift the word of wisdom or the word of knowledge also...for sure that would also bleed through in their prophesy 'as prediction...forth-telling

....H

 

[DPMartin]

I think it does if the preacher is a man of God sensitive to the leading of the Spirit, rather than a well train essay writer.

well there is what you think, and then there is what is true.


1Co 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. 3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.


to be correct about what one thinks, has no value but to feed one's pride. to be correct about what the Lord has to say, is only to acknowledge the Truth of the Lord is correct in all things. which has everlasting value.

one should understand that just because it maybe of the same Holy Spirit, doesn't make it the same gift, of which Paul points out to be a specific thing that should be acknowledged and understood. unless of course one desires to be ignorant and continue in their own thinking as though its the source of truth or something.

its human nature to hold on to one's own judgement of what is good and evil, but in reality, in the soul of the persons who do so, makes them like god's in their own minds setting their own judgements superior to God's Judgements of what is good and evil for His creation.

 

[Stranger]

Agree

I think we often think " one person = one gift. But many people in the body of Christ have more than one gift. If that prophet has the gift the word of wisdom or the word of knowledge also...for sure that would also bleed through in their prophesy 'as prediction...forth-telling

....H

True. The believer may have more than one gift. And 'prediction' is no more miraculous than any other gift of the Holy Ghost. We as Christians are products of the miraculous and our functioning in the Body of Christ is equally miraculous. Thus the importance of meeting with other believers, so as to allow the Holy Ghost to minister.

Stranger

 

[Windmillcharge]

well there is what you think, and then there is what is true.


1Co 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. 3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.


to be correct about what one thinks, has no value but to feed one's pride. to be correct about what the Lord has to say, is only to acknowledge the Truth of the Lord is correct in all things. which has everlasting value.

one should understand that just because it maybe of the same Holy Spirit, doesn't make it the same gift, of which Paul points out to be a specific thing that should be acknowledged and understood. unless of course one desires to be ignorant and continue in their own thinking as though its the source of truth or something.

its human nature to hold on to one's own judgement of what is good and evil, but in reality, in the soul of the persons who do so, makes them like god's in their own minds setting their own judgements superior to God's Judgements of what is good and evil for His creation.

So you are saying that every sermon is a message from God.

That is something I would dispute as not every preacher is a Christian and even if he is they like you and I have times of dryness wqhen we are not following Jesus as we should.

 

[rockytopva]

Today a false profit is a minister who is not living a millionaires dream.

 

[Phoneman777]

Physical manifestations accompany a prophet in vision: first utter weakness and breathlessness followed by supernatural empowerment of God while cessation of breathing remains, eyes remain open during vision, of course along with the other criteria given, such as the predictions will come to pass, the person speaks in accordance with the Word of God, etc.

 

[DPMartin]

So you are saying that every sermon is a message from God.

.

nope

you got that wrong also.

 

[DPMartin]

Today a false profit is a minister who is not living a millionaires dream.

yep, just ask them, they will con- firm that.

 

[Windmillcharge]

nope

you got that wrong also.

Make up your mind.

You reject the idea of God's spirit directing preachers into the truth.

You also reject the idea of all preachers preaching the truth.

Like twinc you excel at not being clear.

 

[Triumph1300]

You also reject the idea of all preachers preaching the truth.

Not all preachers preach the truth.

 

[DPMartin]

Make up your mind.

You reject the idea of God's spirit directing preachers into the truth.

You also reject the idea of all preachers preaching the truth.

Like twinc you excel at not being clear.

in case you haven't notice, this conversation is long over. if you chose to go the rout you speak in, then I'm not going to entertain it. try taughting some one else.

 

[Helen]

Physical manifestations accompany a prophet in vision: first utter weakness and breathlessness followed by supernatural empowerment of God while cessation of breathing remains, eyes remain open during vision, of course along with the other criteria given, such as the predictions will come to pass, the person speaks in accordance with the Word of God, etc.

God wrote no rule book on what and who a prophet was, let alone how he can or cannot receive his message!

Some people while in a meeting hear the Holy Spirit speaking inside and utter what they heard in the Spirit. My daughter started using her prophet gift when she was 14. She see as it were a Scroll unroll out of the spirit realm...and see reads off what is written on the scroll.
There is nothing "cookie cutter" about the spiritual God's gifts.

 

[Josho]

That relates to OT prophets. Please show me from the NT that prophecy dealt with prediction.

I believe prophecy is for both New Testament and Old Testament ages, there are still prophets of Jesus today where God shows them an event and it happens.... The number of those kind of prophets may be few, but they are still around. You asked for the NT, well read the book of Revelation, that book is full of prophetic events that Jesus showed John.

Also there is Acts 2:17-18 - "And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and daughters shall prophesy; Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days."


Here's a question for you though...

If a psychic tried to predict an event by the power of darkness, how much greater do you reckon God can do through his Spirit in those who have the gift of prophecy or anyone of His people?

Now this may be going back to OT here, but remember Pharoah's Magicians vs God using Moses & Aaron?

The Magicians copied Moses and Aaron when they turned their staffs into snakes, and they could copy the 1st and 2nd plague by the powers of darkness as well, but they could not do the other 8, but God could do all 10 through Moses & Aaron and he defeated the magician's snakes, God did way better than Pharoah's magicians.

What does that tell you? How much better are we in Christ than those on the dark side? How much more powerful do you reckon God is?

I think you know the answer to that.


Anyway back to the NT,

Lets bring up Revelations 19:10, at the end of that verse we read "The Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy." Every born again Christian has the testimony of Jesus, and you could not disagree with that, now if we have the testimony of Jesus in us, that means we have the Spirit of prophecy, and because we got the Holy Spirit, Jesus can still prophesy through Christians, Jesus can still put words into man's mouth, he can still show the prophetic to man, it has never ceased.