What is the point in being a prophet?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Status
Not open for further replies.

sawdust

Active member
Feb 12, 2024
899
178
43
67
Australia
what is judging them if it doesn't involve that? Do you need a safe space? are you ultra sensitive. Or you can't take what you dish out ? Please let me know
I would explain, but unfortunately you're far too blind and ignorant to understand.

Have a nice day. :)
 

Genez

Junior Member
Oct 12, 2017
2,730
393
83
truth is a higher form than facts
Give us truth.....

You allege that tongues had not ceased. (which tongues is another question)

But,... here you go.

If God snapped his fingers, and made tongues cease today.
What would happen to the church?


What drastic change would take place?


............
 
Mar 6, 2023
117
90
28
What is the point in being a prophet?

If you have to ask this you are not a prophet.
Perhaps you have been used in prophetic application,
perhaps...

The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell
where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” John 3:8​
You can hear me. Yes... But like the wind, you can not figure out where I am coming from, nor where I am going.

Still can't figure it out? Think! :D
After praying and fasting over the above statement,
I know exactly who you are and where you are coming from.
As to where you are going, that's a given.
 

Genez

Junior Member
Oct 12, 2017
2,730
393
83
What is the point in being a prophet?

If you have to ask this you are not a prophet.
Perhaps you have been used in prophetic application,
perhaps...



After praying and fasting over the above statement,
I know exactly who you are and where you are coming from.
As to where you are going, that's a given.
Thank you Edgar Cayce...
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
12,999
4,311
113
Give us truth.....

You allege that tongues had not ceased. (which tongues is another question)

But,... here you go.

If God snapped his fingers, and made tongues cease today.
What would happen to the church?


What drastic change would take place?


............

Jesus is the Truth. I do not allege anything. The word of God doesn't say tongue has stopped. unless you use 1cor `13:8-10 out of context.

"If God snapped his fingers, and made tongues cease today.
What would happen to the church? "



God can do anything He wants. He is God all by himself :). God doesn't have to snap his fingers God just speaks and it happens.
If God took away the gift of Tongues He gave to me that would be His will I say amen.



But here is your issue God has placed HIS word above his nae and God said:

Roman 11:29

29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.


Oops!

Also, God is not a man, and HE should not lie. If's & but's were candies & nuts for Christmas, what a wonder Christmas it would be :)
 

Genez

Junior Member
Oct 12, 2017
2,730
393
83
Jesus is the Truth. I do not allege anything. The word of God doesn't say tongue has stopped. unless you use 1cor `13:8-10 out of context.

"If God snapped his fingers, and made tongues cease today.
What would happen to the church? "



God can do anything He wants. He is God all by himself :). God doesn't have to snap his fingers God just speaks and it happens.
If God took away the gift of Tongues He gave to me that would be His will I say amen.



But here is your issue God has placed HIS word above his nae and God said:

Roman 11:29

29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.


Oops!

Also, God is not a man, and HE should not lie. If's & but's were candies & nuts for Christmas, what a wonder Christmas it would be :)
You obviously did not read how the gift to heal was removed from Paul when God decided to.
 

Genez

Junior Member
Oct 12, 2017
2,730
393
83
Jesus is the Truth. I do not allege anything. The word of God doesn't say tongue has stopped. unless you use 1cor `13:8-10 out of context.

"If God snapped his fingers, and made tongues cease today.
What would happen to the church? "



God can do anything He wants. He is God all by himself :). God doesn't have to snap his fingers God just speaks and it happens.
If God took away the gift of Tongues He gave to me that would be His will I say amen.



But here is your issue God has placed HIS word above his nae and God said:

Roman 11:29

29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

God removed Paul's temporary gift to heal......



"Greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus.
Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus."
2 Timothy 4:19-20​
And, another time Paul was no longer with the gift to heal!
But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother,
co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent
to take care of my needs. For he longs for all of you and is distressed
because you heard he was ill. Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God
had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow
upon sorrow.
Philippians 2:25-27​

Note!!!!!

"I left Trophimus sick in Miletus."


Indeed he was ill, and almost died.
But God had mercy on him, and not
on him only but also on me, to spare
me sorrow upon sorrow.

If Paul could still heal as he had been doing before?​
He would not have neither felt distressed nor sorrowful as he had.


.........


 

Ballaurena

Well-known member
May 27, 2024
415
273
63
God removed Paul's temporary gift to heal......​
"Greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus.
Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus." 2 Timothy 4:19-20​
And, another time Paul was no longer with the gift to heal!​

But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother,
co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent
to take care of my needs. For he longs for all of you and is distressed
because you heard he was ill. Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God
had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow
upon sorrow. Philippians 2:25-27​
Note!!!!!​
"I left Trophimus sick in Miletus."
Indeed he was ill, and almost died.
But God had mercy on him, and not
on him only but also on me, to spare
me sorrow upon sorrow.
If Paul could still heal as he had been doing before?​
He would not have neither felt distressed nor sorrowful as he had.​
.........​
I can understand why you might think that but actually healing is a more complicated subject then you realize, and therefore you can't necessarily conclude that Paul had lost his gift.

Just because one person or issue can be healed on the spot doesn't mean another can. For example, till God intervened, I suffered from both migraine headaches and anxiety. The anxiety I was instantly healed of to the point that when I tested the healing by not taking my medicine anymore, I didn't get a bit of the usual, intense rebound anxiety, and my symptoms never returned. But for the headaches there were many steps involved including work on my part. Healing was done on my liver quickly, but I also had to learn that there was a connection between carrying around guilt and my getting sick. God seemed to initiate both healings simultaneously so I wouldn't give up on having faith that my healing would come for the headache issue that was much more troubling to me.

And faith is a real necessary ingredient for healing to be done. There is a reason Bible passages will report a healer noting someone with the faith to be healed.

Also, there can be other limitations on resources. A man at my church once asked for healing at another church for like his arm. Someone prayed for healing for him, but foolishly prayed for it to be done 'right now.' The man consequently was healed instantly but there were a lot of negative effects to surrounding tissues. This is also why you aren't likely to see a whole limb restored. Consider how it takes God nine months and good nutrition to grow an 8 lb baby, and realize that at least some healing works in similar ways where the body has to have the resources and time to make the structural changes.

There can also be multiple levels of physical human needed. In fact this seems to be what we saw when Jesus healed a blind man who initially reported seeing people look like trees. Similarly, when someone at my church had a healing done for hearing issues he'd had since he was a kid, the ear started to work but the sound was awful until more was done to correct the fact that his brain had never learned to process the sound.
 

Gragra

New member
Sep 13, 2024
20
6
3
62
Australia
A prophet is what's in the Bible. Without them there would be no Bible. All throughout the books it was prophets writing what God either shows them or tells them to write. Paul says he would rather someone prophesy so as the whole church can be edified.
 

PaulThomson

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2023
3,466
447
83
I know this is my first thread, but I came to this site to ask people's opinions.

God has called me to be a prophet, but I don't understand the point of it. What good is it to know what is going to happen? What good is it to tell people what's going to happen?

When I do tell people what is going to happen, they don't believe me and they come up with any explanation they can to say that what God has shown me will happen won't happen.

Deuteronomy 18:21,22 gives the test of a prophet: "[SUP]21 [/SUP]You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?” [SUP]22 [/SUP]If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed." I will pass that test when what God has shown me comes to pass. The only problem is that when what I say comes to pass, there will not be anyone alive or on this forum to verify it.

Even the most devout Christians on this forum will not be able to accept what I have to say. God is going to do a thing so great and terrible that you cannot even fathom it, let alone accept it. And again I ask, what good is it for me to tell anyone? I fear, and think I know deep down in my heart, that God has raised me up to be the unheard prophet: a raving madman preaching from the street corner about what He is going to do and that no one will listen or heed my warning. And then it will be too late.
Prophets tell people how God sees the present situation and what God predicts will be the result of the present circumstances if people continue on their present trajectory. The purpose is either to encourage a change of attitude and behaviour to avert the negative consequences predicted in a negative prophecy; or to encourage people to continue on their present course so as to reap the good fruit predicted in the positive prophecy. The purpose is to build up/edify people towards trusting God in both word and deed.

The church still needs prophets to fulfil these purposes and speak regarding the present circumstances on God's behalf..
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
12,999
4,311
113
You obviously did not read how the gift to heal was removed from Paul when God decided to.

LOL this comment is the most ridiculous you have made. Paul still asked three times. To bad Paul did not know God no longer heals

Even though it his name in direct context to His attributes
Jehovah Rapha - The Lord Our Healer.
 

PaulThomson

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2023
3,466
447
83
You obviously did not read how the gift to heal was removed from Paul when God decided to.
Could Paul's "thorn in his flesh to buffet him, a messenger of satan" be a persistent temptation toward some particular behaviour Paul wanted to be free of? If not, why not?
 

Genez

Junior Member
Oct 12, 2017
2,730
393
83
I can understand why you might think that but actually healing is a more complicated subject then you realize, and therefore you can't necessarily conclude that Paul had lost his gift.
Healings had to be instantaneous...not dragged out.
What kind of sign could that have been then?

:mad: "Oh, he would have healed ANYWAY!
That does not mean he (Paul) is from God!

There is a difference between losing a gift, and having its purpose come to an end.

Tongues were a SIGN gift. Not simply a gift.
To be a pastor-teacher is not a sign gift.

The Jews in Egypt had their Exodus begin with signs and wonders.
But, once made free and established in the land?
SIGNS ceased.

We must learn that principle of how God works...
We must study and take note of His modus operandi.

If we do?

We will cease being gaslighted by those who come to us with counterfeits in a desire to influence God's Church
with lawlessness and evil.


Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name
and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’


Matthew 7:22-23 is staring you right in the eye.

It says there will be those who will cast out demons and prophesy... and perform miracles!
But, it will be by the power of Satan - NOT GOD!


Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but whoever hates correction is stupid.


Proverbs 12:1
No one. NO ONE... Will be with excuse.



Then I will tell them plainly,
‘I never knew you.
Away from me, you evildoers!’


(but, they called him, "Lord, Lord")


.
 

Genez

Junior Member
Oct 12, 2017
2,730
393
83
Could Paul's "thorn in his flesh to buffet him, a messenger of satan" be a persistent temptation toward some particular behaviour Paul wanted to be free of? If not, why not?
The point you are not concentrating on....

It really does not matter what the thorn in Pauls' flesh was.
Essentially, it was there to reveal something to Paul.

To reveal to Paul that Paul was nowhere as strong as he thought himself to be.
He had been a strong willed, staunch, legalist.
That factor had Paul walking in a delusion about himself that God needed to demolish.
And the thorn, without a doubt, was to show Paul how weak and helpless he really was where it was needed to please God.

Paul was drowning in his weakness.
Grace jumped in and rescued Paul.
It taught Paul to fully depend upon God's power for all his needs.

In other words...

If we could be stronger than the devil, the flesh, and our circumstances?
We would not need grace.

God was training Paul to walk in His power of grace for all his needs.

We need to realize the following... ..

Christianity was a revolutionary new way of living having been unknown to the OT Jews.
God had to begin teaching and training the teacher, as to have the teacher to be able to teach others about grace.

Note! God does not tell Paul that grace is "unmerited favor."

"Unmerited favor" is a term that feels good to the emotions of those who want to settle for a simple answer.


Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power
is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses,
so that Christ’s power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:8-9​


That tells us? Grace is God's power.

Power given to the believer, so that the believer can begin to function in a manner in God's power, in a way
that will merit favor with God!

When grace does its work in us? We become transformed into what merits God's favor!!!


But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me
was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—
yet not I, but the grace (power) of God that was with me."
1 Corinthians 15:10

Grace is God's enabling power for the Christian.
Divine supernatural power to become and be what He wants us to be!


"Unmerited favor?"
That's like a mother's love?

Fake news has always been our enemy.

Overcoming being wrongly informed by means of sound doctrine, is what makes us victorious in Christ.
We will then walk more and more in the Mind of Christ. Sound doctrine is the Mind of Christ!


grace and peace ..........
 

PaulThomson

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2023
3,466
447
83
The point you are not concentrating on....

It really does not matter what the thorn in Pauls' flesh was.
It does matter if someone is using this verse as though it is talking about a sickness that they assume God wanted Paul to be left with and the gifts of the Spirit given to the church have expired, as you were claiming.

So, are you agreeing that the thorn in Paul's flesh could indeed have been a strong persistent temptation he had to keep on fighting by grace through faith.

Genez said:
You obviously did not read how the gift to heal was removed from Paul when God decided to.

Essentially, it was there to reveal something to Paul.

To reveal to Paul that Paul was nowhere as strong as he thought himself to be.
He had been a strong willed, staunch, legalist.
That factor had Paul walking in a delusion about himself that God needed to demolish.
And the thorn, without a doubt, was to show Paul how weak and helpless he really was where it was needed to please God.

Paul was drowning in his weakness.
Grace jumped in and rescued Paul.
It taught Paul to fully depend upon God's power for all his needs.
Certainly, Pau tells us why he was left to battle against this "messenger of Satan" (Not a "messenger of God", note). Lest he become proud through his many revelations. Solomon was given great wisdom, but he failed to keep walking according to the wisdom he was given. Knowing propositional truths does not in itself make one capable of walking in those truths. Paul could have become persuaded that his understanding of the things of God was so especially deep that walking in them should be a walk in the park. Jesus Himself sweat drops of blood because of the challenge subduing the flesh to keep walking in revealed truths posed for Him. So we should expect it to be a struggle of faith for us too, no matter how much we think we know. However, God gives grace to the humble, so we can overcome even the strongest of temptations when we rely on God's power at work in us, submitting to God and resisting the world, the flesh and the devil .

In other words...

If we could be stronger than the devil, the flesh, and our circumstances?
We would not need grace.

God was training Paul to walk in His power of grace for all his needs.

We need to realize the following... ..

Christianity was a revolutionary new way of living having been unknown to the OT Jews.
God had to begin teaching and training the teacher, as to have the teacher to be able to teach others about grace.
We become stronger that the the devil, the flesh and the world by trusting in the grace God is offering to everyone, but so few trust in. Noah alone, of all the world's population found favour/grace in the eyes of God (Gen.6). It does not say that God offered grace only to Noah. God was extending grace to all the world, but only Noah was looking for it and trusting that, despite Noah's imperfection, God was rooting for him, not against him. All others thought God had either abandoned them or was against them, and they were relying on themselves for survival, provision and protection. This made for a dog eat dog, every man for himself, arms race of a world. Only Noah was relying on God believing that God was merciful and loved the unlovely. Only Noah accepted the unmerited grace/favour God was offering to everyone.

Note! God does not tell Paul that grace is "unmerited favor."

"Unmerited favor" is a term that feels good to the emotions of those who want to settle for a simple answer.


Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power
is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses,
so that Christ’s power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:8-9​


That tells us? Grace is God's power.

Power given to the believer, so that the believer can begin to function in a manner in God's power, in a way
that will merit favor with God!

When grace does its work in us? We become transformed into what merits God's favor!!!
I agree that God's grace provides us with the power to overcome the world, the flesh and the devil. However, I believe that grace is unmerited. It is being offered to us before we do anything to deserve it, and it is received by faith in the God who is loving and merciful.

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me
was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—
yet not I, but the grace (power) of God that was with me."
1 Corinthians 15:10

Grace is God's enabling power for the Christian.
Divine supernatural power to become and be what He wants us to be!
Agreed.

"Unmerited favor?"
That's like a mother's love?

Fake news has always been our enemy.

Overcoming being wrongly informed by means of sound doctrine, is what makes us victorious in Christ.
We will then walk more and more in the Mind of Christ. Sound doctrine is the Mind of Christ!


grace and peace ..........
Yes indeed. We do need to divest ourselves of false notions and adopt God's truth, becoming transformed by the renewing of our mind according to truth. The more correctly we understand God's truth, the sharper and more effective will be our sword in combatting the three enemies. Personally, I don't think you have it right regarding grace, since you believe grace is offered when it is earned rather than that it is always being offered to all to be simply received by faith without works.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.