Prophets and Prophesies
Prophets play a huge role in God's plan. We read about them all through the Bible. It is important to understand their role. Elijah was one of the greatest prophets. Let's use his example to learn some about prophets and prophesies.(I Kings 17:1)
God sent Elijah to king Ahab with a specific message. Elijah was to speak for the Lord by speaking forth God's words. That is literally what the word "prophet" means. The key things are that God is in control, and He can do whatever He wants to do. Many times He speaks through people, instead of just speaking directly to an individual to show He has relationships with people. Notice, this verse says that Elijah stood before the Lord. He entered His presence and heard from Him. That is what prophets do.
A prophecy is not just telling the future. It is telling what God said and what God is going to do. Therefore, many times prophesies have to do with the future. They always come true, because they are what God has decided to do. He graciously lets us know His plan through the prophets.
Now that we have the complete Word of God, the Bible, we do not need prophets in the same way they needed them before the Bible. However, God still speaks through people, and these people fulfill the role of a prophet in a lesser way, showing us what God is saying to them. These people might be pastors or just regular Christians. Often, miracles are associated with prophets and prophesies, because God is showing signs that this person has heard from Him, and He is speaking for Him.
We need to listen to whatever God says and to whom God sends to deliver His message. However, please remember that every prophecy of a true prophet comes true 100% of the time. Also, today a prophet will never go against the Bible, only clarify something that is in God's Word. Prophesies in the Bible show us that the Bible is true, and so do prophets today. They never lead us from God's Word.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Kings 18-21.
God sent Elijah to king Ahab with a specific message. Elijah was to speak for the Lord by speaking forth God's words. That is literally what the word "prophet" means. The key things are that God is in control, and He can do whatever He wants to do. Many times He speaks through people, instead of just speaking directly to an individual to show He has relationships with people. Notice, this verse says that Elijah stood before the Lord. He entered His presence and heard from Him. That is what prophets do.
A prophecy is not just telling the future. It is telling what God said and what God is going to do. Therefore, many times prophesies have to do with the future. They always come true, because they are what God has decided to do. He graciously lets us know His plan through the prophets.
Now that we have the complete Word of God, the Bible, we do not need prophets in the same way they needed them before the Bible. However, God still speaks through people, and these people fulfill the role of a prophet in a lesser way, showing us what God is saying to them. These people might be pastors or just regular Christians. Often, miracles are associated with prophets and prophesies, because God is showing signs that this person has heard from Him, and He is speaking for Him.
We need to listen to whatever God says and to whom God sends to deliver His message. However, please remember that every prophecy of a true prophet comes true 100% of the time. Also, today a prophet will never go against the Bible, only clarify something that is in God's Word. Prophesies in the Bible show us that the Bible is true, and so do prophets today. They never lead us from God's Word.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Kings 18-21.