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

Who Judges the Prophecies?

sponsible and without biblical warrant, and it places an unnecessary responsibility on the church.

2. Prophecy Should Be Overseen by the Local Church Leadership.

Every prophetic person and movement faces the necessity of govern ing prophetic activity in public services. W. A. C. Rowe was wise in giv ing this advice to his fellow believers in the Apostolic Church of Great Britain (see my chapter 17): "Some uninformed opinions resist any sug gestion of government or control in the sphere of prophecy. This has led to much fanaticism, which has marred the testimony of Holy Ghost move ments through-out the world. There are principles for the government of Prophets and prophecy laid down in the Scriptures." 15 Bruce Yocum, experienced in the ministry of a charismatic Catholic community, confirms that "the early church benefited from the tremen dous resource of the prophetic gift, and yet avoided the dangers of false prophecy, by entrusting the final authority for determining the authen ticity of prophecy to the heads of the community. The heads, in turn, based their judgment upon observation of the life of the prophet and the effects of his prophecy." 16 The New Testament local churches were governed by elders, one of whom functioned as the senior pastor. Two terms were used for these members of the church who were gifted and ordained to shepherd God's flock: • Elder {presbuteros): Indicates maturity, spirituality, experience and dignity. This term refers to his status by virtue of position and accreditation. • Bishop or overseer {episcopos): Defines the ministry or duties of a guardian, supervisor, shepherd. This term refers to responsibility, activity and function-the nature of his work. 17 Prophecy and other spiritual manifestations fall under the oversight of the church elders. Prophecy should be under the scrutiny of the prophets present and the whole congregation as well, but prophets (local and visiting) as well as church members are to be subject to the spiritual guidance of the eldership. The elders bear the ultimate responsibility for the care and protection of the church. If there should be any controver sial prophecy, the prophets and those with the gift of distinguishing spir 337 8 These people were given the responsibility of feeding, tending, healing and caring for the spiritual needs of the congregations.