Just a thought i had while away: When you read the letters of Paul the Apostle (and all Scripture, this is just an example) you don’t see Paul, or hear Paul, and you don’t even get interested much in Paul, even when he describes his own work, or gives his testimony ; there is something Divine (inspired) about what he wrote, which we call prophecy. Of course, the Canon of Scripture is closed; the Holy Spirit bears witness to that, and also that there is no other inspired words/truth than the Canon.
Yet, it’s the ‘spirit of prophecy’ i’m referring to, and of which the Prophets of old, and the Scriptures which were given to them, are our example of prophecy and teaching.
(2 Peter 1:21, Rev.19:10, 1 Cor. 14:1)
I’m suggesting that just as Paul’s letters exclusively reveal Jesus Christ, and Him crucified ; in the same Spirit we should prophesy/teach/preach today, as the Holy Spirit brings forth the Word of God we have received, from within us; as we have received we speak.
Compare with false prophets and teachers: people get fascinated with them ; they see them, they don’t see the real Jesus. It’s a comparison, or juxtaposition, we would do well to ponder on.
When you read Paul you don’t get interested in Paul, you get a passion for Jesus. We should also follow their example.
October 17, 2008 at 12:46 am
While we are living, before we pass into eternity, judgment is a loving appeal from God and an invitation from Him to consider our way, our path, in relation to His Son, Jesus Christ.
The Greek word for ‘judgment’ is Krisis, the root of our word ‘crisis’.
If you saw a grown man in a sandpit playing with a Tonka truck, you might want to go over and take his Tonka off him, that is, if you loved him enough to do that. When God takes away the toys and the trinkets (the BMW etc..) forcibly it seems like a crisis, and it is a Krisis, a judgment – and an opportunity for us to judge the value of our life and what it consists of – our life does not consist of the things we possess – possessions.
E.g. The most merciful thing that could happen to someone like K Copeland is for him to go broke and end up on the street – that would be mercy, an opportunity for Him to know the Jesus of the Bible and truly live by faith in Him.
October 19, 2008 at 1:26 am
RE: “When you read Paul you don’t get interested in Paul, you get a passion for Jesus.”
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Here’s another aspect of that which distinguishes true prophecy/teaching/preaching from the false – the Holy Spirit from seducing spirits :
As Scripture brings you to Christ, and not to the human authors, so does the true ministry of the Word by the Spirit do exactly the same today thru vessels of clay.
Yet, the ministry of seducing spirits ALWAYS lures a person into idolatry toward the messenger/prophet/preacher – into a wrong relationship which defiles the place of Mediator which belongs to Christ alone.
Hardly anyone would want to meet any of the Apostles – Peter, Paul, John;, it would probably be too scary a proposition, but multitudes would long to meet their celebrity preacher idol in real life, it would be like a dream come true if they would condescend to meet them.
Always discern the spirits as to how you perceive the messengers; whether you see them as equal brothers and sisters, or as idols; whether your love for them is pure or idolatrous/carnal.
February 29, 2012 at 9:10 am
bump