DO WE NEED PROPHETS IN THIS AGE? PART 1 – By Prophet James Hardstone
The New Testament as a whole is symbolic of the Church of Christ. It begins with the ministry of Prophet John the Baptist, as he prepares the way for the Messiah and ends with the ministry of Prophet John the Revelator, as he portrays the picture of the glorified Messiah. The fact that the New Testament begins and ends with, or by, the ministries of the prophets is indicative of the importance which heaven has placed on the ministry of the prophets in the Church of Christ. The birth and the destiny of the Church is, therefore, wrapped up in prophetic anointing. The Church, therefore, without prophetic anointing becomes like a ship on the sea but without a compass.
God has not changed; He still has prophets, spread over the face of the earth with specific commissions towards this generation. The prophets, like other ministers, represent the Kingdom of God. The things they do can bring a difference in the world because they are taught directly from the school of Holy Ghost. Prophets are ordained of God to be with us in these last days, “He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers.” Ephesians 4:11. The existence of prophets is Biblical and if we reject them we will be subtracting from the Scriptures.
I have heard many preachers reject prophets by quoting Hebrews 1:1-2, “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.” Some people can quote the Bible to their own destruction. This scripture means that God spoke to our fathers in the Old Testament through the prophets and we are more blessed in the New Testament as God has also spoken to us through His Son. Jesus did not come to replace prophets; He came to confirm what they had foretold, to put a rubber stamp on their ministry. In many scriptures, Jesus Himself approved the existence of prophets by saying, “He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet, shall receive a prophet’s reward…” Matthew 10:41
There are so many scripture references in the New Testament concerning apostles as well as the prophets having the ministry of revealing new truths to the Church. For example, Jesus declared that He specifically came to ‘the lost sheep’ of Israel, Matthew 15:24. This being the case: How then did we who are Gentiles (not direct descendants of Abraham) come to the Kingdom of God, which in the beginning was exclusively meant for the Jewish people only? We, of the Gentile origin, came into the Kingdom of God through the revelations of Apostles and Prophets according to Ephesians 3:5, “…Which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit of His holy apostles and prophets,”.
The deep spiritual insight that God puts in His prophets is worth searching for during these end times. The revelations brought about by the apostles and prophets form a real foundation of faith upon which a new believer comes into the Kingdom and Jesus Himself is the Chief Cornerstone according to Ephesians 2:20. It is quite a pity that as many Church leaders oppose and reject prophets, the new believers are built on a pastoral foundation which is not designed for such. On such foundations, the new believers hardly grow into maturity, and easily fall when storms of life come as in Luke 6:49, “…like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the streams beat vehemently, and immediately it fell…”. The conflicts in many churches are indications that something is seriously wrong concerning the foundations upon which such Churches are founded. Why would there be unity all over the world among religions like Muslims, speaking a single voice, united in actions and deeds, while the Church which was founded by the Prince of Peace is so divided and living in disharmony and conflicts? – Prophets have an answer to this.
Peter, one of the greatest apostles of Jesus and was with the Lord for three years till His last day on earth earnestly exhorts us, “… we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed, as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in the hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit”, 2 Peter 1:19-21.
Paul, another of the Lord’s mighty apostles, was himself prophesied to by a prophet, Agabus – Acts 21. Having confirmed the importance of prophetic ministry, Paul exhorts us, “Do not despise prophecies.” 1 Thessalonians 5:20
With all these Biblical facts, how can we say that we do not need prophets?
If we reject them;
Who will rebuild the Lord’s broken altar and call fire of revival to fall on it, and ignite revival in the dormant and lukewarm hearts of Christians as fire fell on Elijah’s altar in 1 Kings 18:38-39?
Who will awaken the Church today out of its deep slumber, and from the spiritual blindness that has come upon the preachers and the congregation?
If we muzzle the prophets;
Who will bring a fresh revelation of these times, of Jesus and Him crucified?
Who will correct the abundant heretic teachings and the people’s increasing interest in the mushrooming of cultic denominations?
Who will face the governments and speak against corruption, nepotism, tribalism, and injustices in the society in which small tribes are literally marginalized, people dying of starvation, when cereals board stores are full of maize and other cereals?
Who will stand up and speak against denominational divisions and barriers, and the elevation of denominations far and above the Lord, in which Church doctrines and constitutions are placed above the Word of the Living God?
Who will reveal to the saints that right now there is so much knowledge of Jesus in churches but that the Lord Himself is not in these churches and that this explains why many Christians are suffering? – the Lord’s divine plan is that He makes an abode in us, not us just having mere knowledge of Him, yet without relationship with Him.
Who will stand up to remind the saints that they came to the knowledge of the Lord Jesus by a revelation of prophetic anointing? “…For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Revelation 19:10
Who will help renounce our self-leadings, and champion the dependence on the leadings of Holy Ghost, to the fulfillment of Romans 8:14?
Who will comfort God’s people who have suffered much because of spiritual malpractices by many preachers? 2 Corinthians 1:3-6
If we muzzle the prophets;
Who will bring prophecy from the Father’s heart that convicts men of sin, to cause us to fall on our faces and bring forth heartfelt repentance today? “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you… ”Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” … and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.” Jonah 3:2-10.
Who will help change the existing environment in which many of today’s spiritual leaders are preoccupied with the idea of fame, popularity and status; entertainers, admired for their good looks; where talent, prestige and personality, rather than a holy and blameless life before God are exalted? – these have become the criteria for getting spiritual leadership, following the exact trend of the world! The criterion for the will of God is the cross and surrender of oneself wholly to God, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud,” 2 Timothy 3:1-5
If the Church excludes the prophets from functioning, the tendency will be towards desolation. This exclusion of the prophets from the Church has already taken place. As a result, the Church now is so crippled and in spiritual captivity. Prophets come to bring the message of crucifixion of self. They also bring new areas of the working of the Holy Spirit, particularly in prayer, and in the world.
Evil spirits have the characteristics of coming against true prophets whose voice convicts of sin. Yet prophets, who are true to the heart of the Father, want to gather God’s people into the name and nature of Jesus. They want the bride to make herself ready, without wrinkles or spots, to the full stature of Christ.
