Denied - Part 4

The Old Testament clearly reveals God communicating with people through prophets. Without question the Old Testament prophets are accepted as the means by which God communicated to humanity. We also see throughout the Book of Acts the gift, ministry of prophet was an important part of church life. But what about today? Is the gift, ministry of prophet a vital part of the church today or is there no need for it? Was the gift, ministry of prophet terminated by Jesus, the builder of the church? I believe that the gift, ministry of prophet is most likely the most misunderstood gift, ministry for the church today. So, to cover enough information to show the importance of this gift, ministry, that it is a vital part of the church for today, it will take more than one part of this series.

As previously mentioned in this series, we cannot allow our own intellect and prejudices override what God's Word says concerning anything concerning the church and His Kingdom. So, we start by observing the two main passages of scripture that most sectors of the church refer to, refuting prophets for today. "...But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away." (1 Corinthians 13:8-10) "For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." (Revelation 22:18-19)

In 1 Corinthians 13, "But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away" is interpreted as the canonization of scripture, that is, the Bible is now complete so there is no longer any use for prophets or I might add, prophecy. In Revelation 22 we see a warning to "anyone who adds or takes away the words of this book of prophecy" as adding to or removing scripture from the Bible. It is the combination of these two passages that has also "denied" most sectors of the church from receiving the entire portion of the ascension gifts that Jesus gave to the church, namely, the apostle and prophet. The thought is that prophets or prophesying adds to the scripture when in fact it supports scripture.  If it does not support scripture, then it is false. Keep in mind that there have been false prophets throughout human history, but that does not negate the gift, ministry of the prophet for today. 

Look what the apostle Paul tells us, "...a dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets." (Ephesians 3:2-5) Paul justified his teaching not only with Old Testament Scriptures, but also upon the authority of the "spirit of revelation" and the office anointing of the apostle and prophet. He reveals that apostles as well as prophets now have the ministry of revealing new truth to the Church. This is not saying that prophets and apostles need to write new Scripture, because the Bible is indeed complete and needs no additions. However, the Bible was prophetically inspired (2 Peter 1:20-21) and it requires prophetic illumination and revelation by the Holy Spirit to understand and apply it rightly. Jesus tells us, "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth..." (John 16:13)  Paul also prays "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you (believers; the church) the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him." (Ephesians 1:17)

For instance, Martin Luther read the scripture "The just shall live by faith" (Romans 1:17) and "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9) numerous times before the Spirit of revelation made known to him the reality of its meaning. When he received revelation from the Holy Spirit concerning these things, it ushered in the Protestant Reformation. A true revelation always brings a revolutionary change. Martin Luther did not invent or prophecy new scriptures, but received a true revelation about that which had already been written by former apostles and prophets. The same has been true through the various church movements since the Protestant Reformation. The Holy Spirit gives a revelation of God's Word that brings us to a greater reality of the scripture.  Think about this. Did you ever read the same scripture numerous time and then this one particular time you received a greater understanding (a revelation) of that passage? You did not add to the scripture but now you have a greater reality of its meaning. Believe it or not, you received a prophetic word from the Holy Spirit.  

The Bible is God's complete revelation to man. These inspired words were gathered into sixty-six books and canonized into the Scriptures, which we call, the Holy Bible. God's Word is complete, perfect and fully sufficient to bring all the revelation of God that we can comprehend and appropriate. No further communication from God is to be added to it and no words are to be removed from it. Any truly prophetic word given today must therefore be in full agreement with the spirit and context of the Bible. If this is the case, then, many will ask why we need prophecy today? The answer to this question requires first of all that we understand the meaning of two important words from Biblical Greek.

The two Greek words in the New Testament are translated by the English term "word" are Logos and Rhema. Greek scholars and theologians have debated about whether or not these words are synonymous, but many believe that the inspired writers chose each word to express a different meaning. The interpretation presented here is more consistent with those scholars who are walking in present truth. When we use the word "Logos," we refer to the "Word of truth," that is, the Scriptures, the Holy Bible (2 Timothy 2:15) The Apostle John also speaks of the "Word" in this way.  "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1) "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14) The angel Gabriel tells Mary, "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus." (Luke 1:31) Jesus was the eternal Word revealed and manifest in mortal flesh. 

Concerning the Word (Logos) the Bible records, "Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven." (Psalm 119:89) Jesus said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away." (Mark 13:31) The Logos is the same as God, yesterday, today and forever, because it is God, "The Word was God" the Logos is creative, powerful, true, inerrant, infallible, complete and life giving, it never fails. Any failure or inconsistency in it is due to our failure in understanding, believing, responding, obeying and seeking to fulfill its unfailing nature. The Logos reveals God's will, nature, character, purpose and plan and neither angel, devil, human or any other power in creation can keep the Logos from eternally being and becoming all that it proclaims.

On the other hand "Rhema" is considered "a word from the Word." According to W.E. Vine's, the word Rhema denotes "that which is spoken, what is uttered in speech or writing;" in the singular, "a word." The significance of Rhema (as distinct from logos) is exemplified in the injunction to take "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God," (Ephesians 6:17); here the reference is not to the whole Bible as such, but to the individual scripture which the Spirit brings to our remembrance for use in time of need, a prerequisite being the regular storing of the mind with Scripture."

Rhema is then revelation from the Logos inspired by the Holy Spirit that brings "life", "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." (John 6:63), "power", "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12) and "faith", "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) to preform and fulfill the Logos and it must be received through faith by the hearer. The Logos never changes or fails, however, the Holy Spirit give Rhema to individuals which may fail, not due to the Rhema of the Lord, but rather the people who heard it failed to understand, interpret, believe, obey, respond, wait upon, or act upon it.

In summary, when we use the term "Logos," we mean the Scriptures as a whole. When we use "Rhema," we mean a specific word from the Lord that applies to us individually. No true Rhema spoken by present day prophets will be in conflict with the spirit and context of the Logos. We all must thank God for the Logos, which is the standard of all truth. But we should also be grateful for the Rhema, which provides the precise word needed for the specific situation. All Christians must live by the Logos and receive the Rhema as needed. The Apostle Paul tells us, "But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men." (1 Corinthians 14:3) Sounds like Logos doesn't it.

In the next part of this series we will discuss the purpose of the gift, ministry of the prophet and why it is important for the church to receive today. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all...