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

A Profile of the Ancient Hebrew Prophet

• Successfully predict the near and distant future (18:21-22). • Sometimes perform miraculous signs-but not to lure others away to idolatry (13:1-2). • Speak a message in conformity with previously accredited revela tion (13:2-5).

The Setting of a Prophecy

Consider the basic framework of ancient prophecy: 21

1. God has an audience to whom He wishes to direct His thoughts. This may be: • An individual (like Ahab);

• The nation of Judah or Israel; • A foreign nation (like Nineveh).

2. A situation has arisen with that audience requiring divine action: • His people may be in trouble (military threat, religious com promise, social upheaval); • God's integrity may be at stake; • World powers may need addressing. 3. There is a message to be delivered to that audience. This may be: • Spoken; • Written; • Demonstrated. 4. A messenger, or spokesman, is selected and a mode of delivery chosen: • The messenger must be an "in-covenant" Israelite and devoted to the God of Scripture; • There is no stereotyped "messenger type" qualification; • A great variety of delivery styles is possible; as, warning of judg ment, call to repentance, summons to change, call to holiness. 5. An empowerment of the Spirit is given to hear and deliver: • The prophet hears God's voice, sees a vision, dreams a dream; • Receives an inner compunction to speak ("fire in the bones"); • Receives a tangible, mantle-like anointing. 6. A time and place are selected for delivery: • This can be for now or later, in public or in private; • The time and place may or may not have symbolic significance.