Prophetic Ministry Nowadays
Teacher
------------------
Lesson 13
BASIC BIBLICAL TEXT
Acts 2.1-4,12-18
BASIC BIBLICAL TEXT
Acts 2.1-4
1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
BASIC BIBLICAL TEXT
12Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” 13Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” 14Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
Acts 2.12-18
GOLDEN TEXT
Ephesians 4.11
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers.
AIMS
Know that the current church is the continuation of the apostolic church, with the same characteristics and spiritual prerogatives.
Identify both interpretation currents regarding the contemporaneity of spiritual gifts.
Explain some reasons why prophets are needed in today's church.
INTRODUCTION
Church lives today in the period called the dispensation of grace. First of all, this means that one who was saved must live under the laws of Christ, and no longer under the dictates of Moses’s law.
The rather abrupt conclusion from the Acts of the Apostles book leads to the assumption that history beginning in the first century would continue unhindered (Acts 28:31) until the second coming of Christ.
1. THE END OF THE APOSTOLIC ERA
There are two currents of interpretation regarding the contemporaneity of spiritual gifts: the cessationists and the continuationists.
We will not delve into this debate, we will focus our study on the gift of prophecy and prophetic ministry in the postapostolic age, including our day.
1.1. The continuation of the acts of the apostles
Just as the Holy Spirit worked in the lives of first-century believers, He continues to work in the lives of today's believers. Just as the Holy Spirit distributed gifts and enabled the early Church to fulfill His purpose on earth, He continues to fill believers and empower them through the gifts and ministries in our day.
1.2. New Testament did not establish the gifts cessation
There are no biblical references saying that the gifts would inaugurate the church age, or that they were intended to validate the apostles only during those early years and then disappear.
The text of 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 indicates that when Jesus returns to earth, the Church will enter a new time, in which the perfect will come and the imperfect will disappear. Since today, in part, we know and, in part, we prophesy. Meanwhile, the Holy Spirit continues to work in the Church just as in the book of Acts, and the Church continues to prophesy in parts.
2. PROPHETS IN THE CHURCH DISPENSATION
During the Pentecost feast, described in Acts, chapter 2, all who were there received the Holy Spirit. This outpouring of the Holy Spirit opened the door to the gifts of speaking with other tongues and prophesying. This can be clearly seen in several passages in the book of Acts, including what happened in the church in Ephesus (Acts 19:1-6).
2.1. The apostles are the new prophets
As New Testament writers, the apostles received the same empowerment of the Spirit given to the Old Testament prophets.
For the apostle Paul, apostles and prophets are side by side in this important commitment to laying the foundations of our faith (Eph 2:20).
2.2 In the Church there were prophets
It is notorious that some men in the New Testament church were recognized as prophets. They not only had the gift of prophecy, they had the title, the office, because that was how some leaders were treated within that Christian community (Acts 13:1).
The book of Acts makes it clear that this was a fully active ministry in that church:
The book tells of a group of prophets coming from Jerusalem to Antioch, citing the name of one of them: Agabus (Acts 11:27,28).
Luke also tells of two leaders who traveled with Paul and Barnabas, whose names were Judas and Silas (Acts 15:22).
3. WHY PROPHETS ARE NECESSARY TODAY?
Many believers are encouraged and strengthened through prophetic words in our churches.
The prophetic message does not bring something new in relation to the Scriptures, nor could it, but it does bring a new and specific application, linked to a specific case or need.
3.1 Because of God’s purposes
God always uses people to make clear His eternal purposes for mankind.
Likewise, He continues to listen to intercessors, convicting of sin and expecting changes from His people. In this context, prophets are absolutely necessary. Where there is no prophetic word, chaos will set in (Lam 2:9).
3.2 Because of society
Priests focus their attention on the temple, but prophets are linked to God's action beyond the sanctuary. The prophet's influence has to transcend the religious milieu. Messages from him do not speak of a mythological god. The God announced by the prophets is present and updated with what is happening.
3.2 Because of society
The prophet's relationship with this God, who judges and condemns social injustices, caused by the greed of the powerful and who is involved with the oppression suffered by the poor, makes the prophet's ethical sense much higher than the common sense of society in which he lives. This is the commitment of true prophetic ministry: more than prognosticators, they are denouncers. They are the voice of those who have no voice, but at the same time they are also the voice of God, who speaks in their name.
Jesus said: My Father works until now, and I work too (Jo 5:17). Does this word contain a time of work, or is Jesus saying that He and the Father have always worked and will continue to work, as long as destinies depend on his care? The answer seems obvious.
God continues to love human beings, He continues to work in the Church, and through her, to reach the lost. Here is the reason for the gifts active in the Church: they are part of His purpose and are a fundamental part of the divine plan in these last days.
3.3 Because of Church
3.3 Because of Church
The apostle Paul declared: But he who prophesies speaks to men, for edification, exhortation and consolation (1 Cor 14:3). Generally speaking, it was not just the apostles who prophesied, many believers did. Building up through prophecy, as seen in the verse, will always be needed at any time.
As needed, the gifts will be exercised by people raised up and anointed by God, for the purpose of Eph 4:12-13. The building of the Church will be a work that is always progressive and absolutely necessary.
CONCLUSION
Wise Solomon declared: If there is no prophecy, the people perish (Prov 29:18). The absence of prophets, who speak the Word of God, leads to the worst pictures of corruption and deviation of the people.
It is not possible to restrict the operations of the Eternal Spirit to the temporality of the apostolic age described in the book of Acts of the Apostles. To act in this way is an error of interpretation and a demonstration of the purest folly. It's like wanting to control the wind.
CONCLUSION
The apostle Paul is clear in stating that God gave some to apostles, and some to prophets (Eph. 4:11). He also declared that the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable (Rom 11:29).
Did God give and then take away these gifts? Cessationists wear distorted lenses and prejudice when looking at texts dealing with the gifts and ministries of the Holy Spirit.
However, the contemporaneity of these gifts and ministries are very well grounded in the Holy Scriptures and in the practice of life of the church and its members.
GOD BLESS YOU!
EBD ADVEC
@ebdadvec
ebd@advec.org
advec.org/ebd
youtube.com/ebdadvec
CONTACTS | EBD ADVEC
@ebdadvec
CONTACTS | FÁBRICA EBD
Fábrica EBD
@fabricaebd
contato@fabricaebd.org
fabricaebd.org
youtube.com/fabricaebd
@fabricaebd