Deut 13:1-5, Deut 18: 15 – 22.
First of all, let me point out something. In verse 15, the
Lord said ‘a prophet shall thou RAISE’ . He said a prophet will have to be
raised. Meaning he will have to be brought up and trained. I have noticed that
there is normally a span of time between when God gives a man a vision and when
that vision is brought into the physical world. E.g. Joseph was 17 when he was
given the dream, but 30 when it came to pass. Moses was 40 when he was given
the liberation mandate, but was 80 when it came to pass. Even our Lord Jesus started his ministry when
he was 30. So what’s all the rush into ministry about. God is more concerned
about the messenger than the message.
Now a prophet in the old testament gave a prophecy at the
risk of his own life, because if his prophecy was wrong, he was supposed to die
immediately. But in the new testament,
it isn’t so. Paul said, we know in part and we prophesy in part (1 cor
13 vs 9). The new testament folks are actually “a people born from prophecy” but I’m
actually referring here to one who has been called into the office of a prophet.
A prophet in the new testament is normally given a word or a phrase which can
be in form of a faint impression in his spirit. He is normally told the “what”
by the Holy Ghost, but sometimes he has to perceive more what will be the
“when” and the “how”. So if you know someone who claims to be a prophet and
might have missed it, one time or the other, don’t hold it against him.
Remember that he might still be in training because he prophesies in part. But
remember, there are still some very fake ones.
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