Understanding the office of a prophet, By Ayo Akerele

… a true prophet of God in the New Testament dispensation is first and foremost born again and filled with the Holy Spirit. Second, a true prophet of God is said to act in the office of a prophet: “And he has given some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers” (Ephesians 4:11).

“I have also spoken through the prophets, and brought revelations; I have given a sign through the testimony of the prophets.” — (Hosea 12:10)

The office of the prophet is one of the most important offices in the Christian Faith, and also for the movement of God on earth. This is a very critical ministry that God has established to carry out His agenda on earth. The prophets are the words of God. Prophets are the bearers of God’s plans, purposes, instructions, blessings and also judgments to mankind, whether in the Old Testament or the New Testament. God began to raise up prophets in the Old Testament, beginning with Enoch.

‘Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, also prophesied about these people, saying, “Behold, the Lord is coming with ten thousand saints” – (Judas 1:14).

This teaching will not and cannot lighten the subject of the “prophet”. However, the Holy Spirit will help us build a solid understanding of who the prophet is. If you really check the scriptures, you can find the names of people like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Nahum, Yunus and others. Bible scholars classify prophets as Minor Prophets and Major Prophets. The classification has nothing to do with the content or quality of his ministry, but is based on the size of his book. Actually, there is four Great Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. And, twelve minor prophets: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi.

According to Heather Riggleman, “The English word for prophet comes from the Greek word ‘prophetes’, which means “to speak for others, especially one who speaks for the gods.”

The prophets in the Bible speak the truth, which comes from God. His unique calling allows him to speak with authority on behalf of God. They never speak with authority nor do they share their opinions. They only spread the message, as commanded by God. Their role is to understand God’s will, as well as his holiness, and teach God’s people to reject idolatry and sin.

Thus, the original prophet of God in the New Testament dispensation is first and foremost born again and filled with the Holy Spirit. Second, a true prophet of God is called to act in the office of a prophet: “And he has given some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers” (Ephesians 4:11).

Note: having the gift of prophecy does not automatically make one a prophet. Anyone who believes can receive the gift of prophecy and can give an accurate word from God to a person or a nation, and it will come true. You can build your personal altar to such a degree that the gift of prophecy can begin to manifest itself in you. You can wish for any gift and pray for it to come true. Paul said to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 12:31, “Seek the best gift”. However, a prophet is a person who is especially called by God to function in the office of a prophet, with many unique gifts. It is a certain office. You cannot make yourself a prophet. God said to Jeremiah, “Before I created you, I knew you.” (Jeremiah 1-5).

Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do they all perform miracles? — 1 Corinthians 12:29

According to Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, “For one is given the word of wisdom by the Spirit, to one is given the word of understanding by the same Spirit, to one is faith by the same Spirit, to one is given the gift of healing. by the same Spirit , one performs miracles, another prophesies, another discerns spirits, and another discerns tongues, and another interprets the language of spirits.”

In the scriptures above there are nine gifts of the Spirit, categorized into three: the gift of revelation, the gift of authority and the gift of speech:

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1. the gift of Revelation, words of wisdom, words of knowledge and discerning of wisdom;
2. gifts of power, performing miracles, gifts of healing, and special faith;
3. Gifts, prophecies, tongues and interpretation of tongues;

In the New Testament, Jesus is a prophet; Silas and Judas were prophets (Acts 15:32); Agabus was a prophet (Acts 21:10).

4. A prophet will be greatly anointed by God with the gift of revelation, the gift of power and at least one of the gifts of speech – most prophecy. Also remember that satanic prophets have infiltrated the body of Christ – many will have most or even all of the above gifts. As a result, you do not prove the authenticity of a prophet based on gifts alone, but based on fruits (Matthew 7:20). Let us now look at some of the general characteristics of a true prophet of God:
5. (1 Corinthians 14:32);
6. When God’s prophets speak, it comes true – “The prophet who prophesied about peace, when the prophet’s words come true, the prophet will be known as the one who truly sent the Lord” – Jeremiah 28:9;
7. The prophets are the ones who guard the secrets of God (“The Lord Jehovah does nothing, except he reveals his secrets to his servants, the prophets” – Amos 3:7;
8. Genuine prophets of God are not silent conformers, they speak against evil in society, they are never silent, “And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba know that Samuel has been appointed as a prophet of the Lord”, 1 Samuel 3:20;
9. The divine inspiration and instructions of the prophets of the Old Testament are confirmed in the New Testament. 2 Peter 1:20-21: “There is no prophecy in the Bible that comes from the prophet’s own interpretation. Because prophesying is never in the will of man, but the prophets, even though they are men, speak from God, when they are led by the Holy Spirit.”

Ayo Akerele, a system development and development strategist, and minister of the word, writes from Canada and can be reached through ayoakerele2012@gmail.com.