The Work of a True Prophet

“A prophet with strong words and a carnal lifestyle is no prophet of God. A prophet with strong words and a calloused heart is no prophet of God. A prophet who speaks cheap grace and cries easily is no prophet of God. True prophets of God will be spiritually mature, speak strong words, and have a crying heart.”

Two key issues
First of all we must address a couple of key issues. First, there are those in the modern Church that deny prophets exist anymore. Those who make these denials are misguided and are misguiding anyone that listens to them. It is not just a matter of opinion; it is a matter of biblical truth and man’s additions and subtractions from God’s Word of truth. Those who make these denials are presently greatly hindering the maturity and work of the body of Christ and in the future will give an account to the Lord Himself. The Lord who sends prophets to do His work is not pleased with those who deny the existence of those He sends. He is not pleased that they are personally not acknowledging, recognizing and listening to those He sends, and He is not pleased that they are hindering others from doing the same. Those being hindered don’t have a clue!

Secondly, where prophets are recognized as existing today there are many false and carnal prophets doing great damage to the Church. They tickle people’s ears and fleece them for all they can get. They make up words from their own imaginations and speak things that are not from God. They talk about new things and they cause people to selfishly think about their personal destinies rather than denying self, forsaking all and following Jesus. At the surface or just below the surface anyone with true discernment can always see pride and haughtiness in these strutting peacocks. They not only bring words of their own making, they take truth and dabble it with leaven. A little dab of leaven will make the truth of no real effect. God is definitely not pleased with these people and He is not pleased that they are great stumbling blocks to His Church. They cause many in the Church to go in the wrong direction and the people of the Church like it so.

Truth concerning the existence of prophets
There are true prophets of God in our day. There may not be as many as some think, but there are true prophets. What does not exist today are founding prophets, but prophets exist along with the other ministry gifts listed in Ephesians 4:11. They are here to do their God assigned part in the equipping of the body of Christ. The body of Christ or any part of the body of Christ will never be complete without the work of our Lord’s true prophets.

What is the work of God’s prophets?
First let’s address what they don’t do. In brief, true and mature prophets do not give new revelations; they do not bring new words that are equal to or beyond Scripture. That is left to the false prophets to do and claim. They are not concerned about themselves and what they can get out of life; they are concerned about God, His people and His kingdom. They do not fleece the people and lead them astray; they do not cause the people to selfishly seek things and selfishly focus on their own destinies.

What do true and mature prophets do? True and mature prophets help equip the saints for the work of the Lord’s ministry. They speak words that will open people’s understanding and reveal to them what is already written in Scripture. They may give insights and/or warnings from God about the future, but they are strongly focused on the here and now. They speak from the Word what God is emphasizing at a particular time and/or place.

Study the prophets of the old and new covenants and you will gain many insights. For example, the call of God to Jeremiah reveals things that are needed today. We need prophets who will root out, pull down, destroy and throw down what is not of God, especially in the Church. We need prophets that will build and plant what is of God, especially in the Church.

I have for years been saying that all true and mature prophets will be calling the Church to repentance. Along with that they are calling the Church to maturity in Christ and to the unity of faith with each other; they are calling the Church to return to the Lord and His Word. They are calling the Church to seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness. They are calling for true purity of heart and holiness. They are calling the body of Christ to war, to put on her armor and fight the good fight of faith. Most important of all they are calling the body of Christ to truly love and worship God.

Conclusion
There are other things that true prophets do, but if you have ears to hear and eyes to see, and you can free yourself from the effects of modern churchanity you will be able to begin identifying true prophets. They may not presently be in your local Church and or denomination. Be loyal to where God places you, but realize that all of the Church is His and most of it needs to be restored. He is sending prophets to restore all of His Church that will listen and obey. You want sinners to look beyond where they are; God wants the same of you! Selah.