Your Sons & Daughters Shall Prophesy - Prophetic Gifts Today In The New Testament Church

Comparing Prophecy in Both Testaments

is addressed, whereas in New Testament times prophecy is addressed to the Church, the Spirit-filled body of believers in Christ Jesus. Emil Brunner comments: "...Through the present fulfilment of what had been previously merely promised ...an utterly new dimension of sal vation has been vouchsafed, namely, life in the Holy Spirit, concerning which the Gospel of St.John roundly declares 'for the Holy Spirit was not yet given'.When Paul affirms: 'If any man is in Christ he is a new creature' he is alluding to a new mode of existence not yet known to the believers of the old covenant." 13

The Hebrew Religion Has Been Exchanged ·for a Multiethnic Church Led by the Spirit of God

The Church with Christ as Head now welcomes every race and social class, and gives men and women equal status in spiritual activities (Romans 3:22; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:11).The New Testament writers distinguish between membership in a nation or race and membership in the community of Christian believers. God's intention was to have "a kingdom of priests and a holy nation " (Exodus 19:6), a theocracy with God as Ruler. The full function of this concept was not accomplished under the old order.The people sinned, rebelled and soon clamored for a king, which the other nations had, so elderly Samuel anointed young Saul as Israel's first earthly monarch (1 Samuel 9-10).Thus the king replaced the prophet-seer-judge as the leader, under God, of Israel. Most of the kings in Judah and Israel corrupted Hebrew religion by initiating or tolerating various forms of idolatry, and God sent His faith ful servants to challenge those destructive practices and religious com promises.The prophets had a difficult job but were strengthened by an intensity of divine energy enabling them to deliver God's word without fear or favor, and despite obstacles and resistance of every kind.As I.How ells says: "Even though the prophets sometimes called the kings to the throne, at the same time they could predict the fall and destruction of the same royal families because of unfaithfulness.Through the mouths of the prophets God exercised His dominion in the national life and the people realised that the government ...was, in fact, in the hands of God." 14 The Hebrew found himself part of a society and culture and religion that were all-pervasive.Laws regulated food eaten, clothes worn, even cutting one's beard.The teaching of God and His laws permeated family life, social relationships, even business.This did not automatically pro duce spiritual people, but a godly worldview enabled Israel to keep a more balanced outlook than her heathen neighbors.Even when the nations of 147 ■