*This is a series of posts which might be of benefit for the first time reader to begin at the “Introduction” for continuity sake.
Obviously, for a prophet to be a prophet, there has to be some disposition to prophesy. That appears to be a simplistic statement, but apparently it needs to be stated. Titles abound in modern Christianity and many of those titles are self-conveyed. People declare themselves to be established in a certain office (Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, Elder, Deacon, Minister, etc.) without any fruit of such establishment or endorsement from a local church body. I believe these offices exist, but how it is appropriated as a title might need further evaluation. The Bible certainly presents these offices as a reality, but tends to present them as job descriptions more than titles. Nowhere in Scripture does Paul refer to himself as “The Apostle Paul”, but rather, “Paul, an apostle”. A strong case can be made that these offices are descriptors more than titles.
That said, I don’t think titles to necessarily be bad, but I do think they can be used for silly and self-aggrandizing purposes. I also believe there is an appropriate respect one might bestow upon another as a display of honor. My son is my pastor and I have called him by his first name for years. I still do at family functions and get-togethers. However, I find it important to refer to him as “Pastor” when I am amongst the people of the church and especially the children. If children are required in school to refer to their teachers as “Mr. or Mrs.”, rather than their first names, I would hope our church kids would do no less for their Pastor. Now, no one is required to do that. I am not required to do that, but I choose to do that to demonstrate that he has embraced an important role in corporate life and in my life. I need to break my familiarity and recognize the demonstrable call God has placed on his life. It is simply being respectful. In much the same way I have called my physician, Doctor; or my overseer as Bishop. Sure, I know their first names, but I simply demonstrate my respect because “I am to give honor to whom honor is due” (Romans 13:7).
I am also willing to convey that respect and honor upon other spiritual offices as they are established and endorsed credibly. But here is where some important parsing needs to take place. Not all who say they are a prophet, really are a prophet. In much the same way, not all who say they are an Apostle, Evangelist, Pastor, or Teacher, may actually be one. Before we bestow titles, we may need to distinguish between gifts and offices.
Everyone can potentially prophesy (Numbers 11:29; Romans 12:6; I Corinthians 12:10, 14:1-5, 14:31), but not all are prophets (I Corinthians 12:28-29; Ephesians 4:11). Granted, it might look and operate the same by outward appearance, but apparently there are distinctions to be made. I would suggest the following for consideration:
- The “gift” of prophecy can be released to anyone at any time subject to the will of the Spirit. (See I Corinthians 12:11) The office of prophet does not appear to be subject to certain arbitrary releases of the Spirit, but instead can function prophetically out of the resident gift and calling. (See 2 Timothy 4:2) None of the offices of Ephesians 4:11 are subject to certain heightened times of God’s presence, but rather are a part of the resident, internal equipment imparted by the Lord through His calling to function “in season or out of season” as required. Therefore, prophets can move into arenas not normally conducive to the moving of God’s Spirit, yet have a word from the Lord. (Example: government, education, businesses, etc. See I Kings 22 or Jeremiah 1:5)
- The gift of prophecy has more of an encouragement, exhortative, and edification aspect to it when released to individuals or the church at large. The office of prophet has more of an assignment attached to it (I will discuss this in next post). The office prophet carries impartation, instruction, and potentially activation. (See Romans 1:11 and 2 Timothy 1:6)
- There may also be certain “levels” of leadership and anointing within the expression of prophets, in much the same way we see it with evangelists and pastors. There are many called “evangelists”, yet few with the scope and influence of a Billy Graham or Ray Comfort. Yet, no matter the scope, one can be a legitimately called and equipped evangelist. The same could be said of pastors. Some pastors oversee works 10’s, 100’s, 1000’s or even 10,000’s, yet all are legitimately called pastors. I don’t think every apostle has to arise to the stature of Paul. Biblically there were apostles relatively unknown, so we know this to be true. The same could be said of prophets. There were scores, if not hundreds of biblical prophets which are obscure to us. Yet, they were legitimate prophets. So not every prophet need look like Elijah.
- This may be somewhat controversial, but I am convinced the gift of prophecy almost exclusively confirms what God has already put in the believer’s heart, but the office prophet carries a “creative” or maybe ineptly stated a “conceptual implanting” of God’s Will into a person’s imagination. Isaiah appears to acknowledge such a possibility when he writes:
“You have heard;
See all this.
And will you not declare it?
I have made you hear new things from this time,
Even hidden things, and you did not know them.
They are created now and not from the beginning;
And before this day you have not heard them,
Lest you should say, ‘Of course I knew them.’”
- Isaiah 48:6-7 NKJV
Again, every word from the Lord which arrives this way to us is to be tested by the Scriptures. The reason simply put is that the Lord is able to speak to all His people and any potential decision made from a prophetic word is still subject to each individual’s consideration, faith, and responsibility. (Hebrews 4:2)
As I conclude this post, the prophetic ministry is recognized, not self-declared. No apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, or teacher should have to blow their own horn for recognition. It becomes self-evident by their fruit.
Hope that offers some clarity.
Until next time.
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