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

Comparing Prophecy in Both Testaments

the elders in Numbers 11:16-29; the prophesying of King Saul in 1 Samuel 10:10-13; and the ministry of people like Samuel whose judgments and prophecies on Israelite domestic activities are not recorded.Such prophecy, which does not lay claim to being absolutely authoritative to all God's people, happened in New Testament times and can occur today. Remember also that once the Law was given, God still had things to say to His people.The Law was complete in basic principles but did not cover every contingency.Hence God raised up prophets to be His voice as a present, continuing presence. 29 The prophecies preserved in Scripture were those that best expressed the character and purposes of God for all mankind in the future, and this probably explains why we have almost nothing of the messages of men like Samuel, Elijah and Elisha.Although intimately connected with the circumstances of their own times, much of their ministries had slight importance for later generations but serviced the immediate needs of the people at the time. 30 In the New Testament we find congregational prophecy meant for edi f i cation, comfort and exhortation (1 Corinthians 14:3) that was to be evaluated or judged (1 Thessalonians 5:21).Regular prophecy in New Testament times and also today "does not add to Scripture although it should add to our understanding of the unchanging word of God.Its major purpose ...is to enable the church to receive continuous guidance from the Father in the carrying out of the mission of Christ and the ful filling of the purposes of God to bring the knowledge of salvation to all the nations." 31 The God-breathed canon of Scripture (as explained in chapter 5) was given by special dispensation of God.The Bible stands as fundamental truth in written record for all peoples of all times, to be interpreted by spiritual believers; Jesus is the full revelation of God and His truth in human form.The ancient canonical prophets brought revelations that unraveled the plans and purposes of God.Of necessity such inspired utterances were of a higher order, whereas the prophecies in the early churches and today bear on immediate needs and circumstances.As David Blomgren points out: "There is a direct limitation put upon all New Testament prophecy.Paul in 1 Corinthians restricted such prophecy in this age to that which is based upon prior revelation....New Tes tament prophecy can only operate 'in part', according to the portion of knowledge granted us now in the prior revelation of God's written word. ...The prophetic function of the New Testament prophet continues ... parallel to and illuminating that which we 'know in part."' 32 I have prepared a chart that contrasts Old and New Testament prophecy in eleven categories, similar to the points I mentioned in chapter 3. 153 •