The Inspired Prophet

 DEVOTION

THE LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS

THE INSPIRED PROPHET

Eph 4:7-13

7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men."  9 (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

NIV

Now we have come to another one of the gifts to the church given by Christ. Having looked into the gift of apostle, we now examine this gift of prophet. First, we need to remember that Christ gave these gifts to the church for the benefit of the church, His body, who believe. We also should note that Paul is informing the new believers who are Gentiles living in Ephesus that Christ has given this gift of a prophet to the New Testament church. We know of all the Old Testament prophets who spoke for God to Israel. However, we should understand He gave some to be prophets and thus we should be aware there are those who he gave to be prophets among us. Second, we should examine the Greek word profeetees. The most direct meaning is to be a spokesman for God, one through whom God speaks. It is used in Greek writings as an interpreter of oracles, a foreteller, soothsayer, or seer. However, within the New Testament this word is used as one who is moved by the Spirit of God and hence his organ or spokesman, solemnly declares to men what he has received by inspiration. It can also be used universally as a man filled with the Spirit of God, who by God’s authority and command in words of weight pleads the case of God and urges the salvation of men. That almost sounds like evangelism, but that gift is entirely different. We needed to examine this word, prophet to the fullest because we have the Spirit of God dwelling within all of us believers, and so we would think that God is still in the business of inspiring people to speak his truth to the church. This may not be so much as telling people what God is going to do, yet in fact, if the word of God is preached or interpreted to the fullest, it will include that which God is going to do, so in a sense, a foreteller. Still, we all have that knowledge at our fingertips if we but read the complete word of God. Therefore, we think the most meaningful use of this gift of prophet to the church is when someone is inspired by the Spirit to speak the words of God to His people. This might well show up in a well-planned and throughout sermon when the speaker does not remember the words spoken because those words were not included in this well-planned sermon. Some of the preachers’ words came straight through the inspiration of the Spirit for the benefit of the church. This is much different than the gifts of tongues, interpretation, and prophecy given to the whole church. Yet, we cannot help but think that there are real prophets in the church today. All that is needed is for someone to listen for the inspiration of the Spirit and be willing to speak forth that which they were inspired. Perhaps, with so much disinformation that has been spread among the church about these gifts, we are afraid to be inspired and thus we have closed ourselves from hearing from the Spirit and listen only to the words of men. Let us be open to being an inspired prophet of God.