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PROPHETS, MANIFESTATIONS AND GIFTS

Part 3 - Gifts: The Functions of Prophecy

Continued...

But needless to say, as time in ancient Yisrael progressed,

her inevitable backsliding caused the judgment of YAH to

be proclaimed. Of course, this became a word from the

prophets that, although humbly received by a faithful

remnant, earned the wrath of many - often to the point of

the prophets very lives hanging in the balance.

The true test of a prophet at this hour, beyond his worship

of YAH in Y'shua, and that, those things which he says

do surely come to pass, is a willingness to declare

even that which is likely to offend his listeners,

and suffer the inevitable tribulation and persecution that

arises as a result. Measured by that yardstick, it becomes

obvious that there aren't many genuinely anointed

prophets of YAH in our midst...

What becomes just as obvious is that we desperately

need the ones who are willing, like Y'shua Himself and all

the prophets of Israel, to tell the hard truths in love. Sélah.

And thus...

The second of the basic office gifts is insight - again, the

divine ability to see into the lives and destinies of

individuals, as well as whole families, communities, cities

and nations. And like the mighty prophets of old, the

will, the courage, and the humility to speak a true

word of correction or judgment to the mistaken and the

disobedient...

Of course at some point, the ancient prophets of Yisrael, for

the most part, were no longer held in high esteem as

valued and respected members of the community.

Instead, more often than not, they were viciously maligned,

isolated, tortured, and even killed outright, for being

"bearers of bad news". But even so, do not err, beloved.

Contrary to popular religious opinion, a TRUE prophet's

mantle continues to this very hour to include the full range

of prophetic expression, including judgment by rebuke,

reproof, and admonition - until we all come to the unity of

the faith.

In the apostle Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, he sets

forth the proper manner to fulfill the prophetic needs of the

church, instructing, "Let the prophets speak two or three,

and let the other judge. If any thing be revealed to another

that sits by, let the first hold his peace. For you may all

prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be

comforted". (1 Cor.14: 29-31). This order of the prophets is

absolutely crucial to our receiving the knowledge and

revelation we require to overcome the world...

But also, the prophetic order is needful for the powerful

witness and testimony it brings to the weak or unbelievers

among us, they they might repent, and find new life in YAH 

through Y'shua.

The apostle Paul put it this way: "...But if all prophesy, and

there come in one that believes not, or one unlearned, he

is convinced of all, he is judged of all: And thus are the

secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on

his face he will worship YHWH, and report that YAH is in

you of a truth". (I Cor.14:24 -25).

And yet, for the record, our congregations for the most

part, have no such practice, and are therefore clearly

without the WHOLE counsel of YAH.

Therefore, the study of the prophetic is no mere exercise in

rote theology - but a practical matter of paramount 

importance in bringing the remnant of Israel in Christ into the

very unity of the faith...

The third basic gift of the prophetic office is oversight -

another key area that has yet to be established among

our churches and congregations; and is a MAJOR cause of

our extreme vulnerability to heresy and demonic infiltration.

The office of prophet is first and foremost a governmental

position within the local congregation, as well as the holy

nation at large. And unlike most local pastors and

teachers, an endowment of supernatural spiritual

discernment is a part of a prophet's gifting for overseeing

the church of Y'shua - prophetic discernment being a major

requirement for ordering the household of faith, and

maintaining its operation in peace and true holiness.

As it is written, "Where there is no vision the people perish:

but he that keeps the law, happy is he". (Mishlei [Prov.] 29:

18). In other words, no prophetic vision, no limit on

lawlessness. And the vision that provides real, life

sustaining hope is not the vain, materialistic madness being

passed off as "anointed prophetic teaching" today; but a

vision that simply has yet to be fully realized at this hour...

The true prophets of YAH, like the prophets who were

before them, are yet in 'the wilderness', or away from the

camp, so to speak. Like the prophets of old, these men are

prepared for ministry not by the 'second-hand' revelation

of the established order of their day, but by YAH Himself!

Hear, O Israel, and understand - Moshe didn't meet "I AM

THAT I AM" among his brethren, but was prepared for

leadership among the Midianites - a different branch of the

family of Abraham. David didn't seal the vision of YAH in

the court of Shaul (Saul); but in part, while sojourning

among the Philistines - in enemy territory. EliYahu (Elijah)

gained the courage and faith to overthrow Achab's (Ahab's)

ungodly rule under Jezebel not in the synagogue, but in the

wilderness.

Y'shua Himself was born in Judea, but grew in favor with

YAH and man not among the Israelites, but among the

Samaritans. Sélah.

One of the main causes for His rejection was that He was

perceived by the priestly order as a 'non-Judean', and

therefore not a legitimate Messianic candidate; as in "Can

any good thing come out of Nazareth?", and "You [Y'shua]

are a Samaritan, and have a devil." And so shall it be in this

final hour...

Hearken, O beloved nation - as we move into the season of

the restoration of all things spoken in the Ruakh by the

prophets, the true prophets of YHWH will become

increasingly evident, and increasingly effective in preparing

the way for establishing Kingdom order in Y'shua.

...Behold, the kingdom of heaven is at hand!

And now, let's take a brief look at the gift of prophecy

given to every true Messianic/Christian believer.

To begin with, the gift of prophecy by the Holy Spirit is

given to every true disciple of Y'shua for three basic

purposes:

• Edification.

• Exhortation.

• Consolation.

At the onset of the Church of Y'shua, His family and

disciples, after misunderstanding Him, forsaking Him, and

even betraying Him; were finally gathered together in one

accord, and were then filled with the Holy Spirit. They

immediately began to prophesy in the languages of the

proselytes from the many nations who were gathered at

Jerusalem for Passover.

Clearly, this gift of prophecy, which was promised to us by

Y'shua Himself, is given to every believer who moves

beyond being a distant, fearful follower of Christ, to a true

disciple, or STUDENT of Christ.

The apostle Kefa's (Peter's) message to the gathered

throngs on that Passover included this marvelous

assurance - "... Repent, and be baptized every one of you

in the name of Y'shua Ha Mashiach ('Jesus Christ') for the

remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy

Spirit [Ruach Ha Qodesh]. For the promise is unto you, and

to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many

as YHWH our Elohim (the LORD our God) shall call". (Acts 2:

38-39).

I beseech you in the name of Y'shua Ha Mashiach, O Yisrael

- do not be deceived! This gift was not limited to the birthing

of the church alone, but for her growth into maturity as well,

which includes the faithful remnant of Messianic Yisrael of

every generation, including our own!

The first basic prophetic gift is edification, which simply

means to build up - and the gift of prophecy properly

exercised does exactly that.

This wonderful gift of the Spirit both strengthens the

saints, building up the believer, and brings conviction

and repentance to the unlearned and the backslidden,

building up the church. As it is written, "How is it then,

brethren? when you come together, every one of you has

a psalm, has a doctrine, has a tongue, has a revelation,

has an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying".

(1 Cor. 14:26).

The fact that so many of our meetings have become little

more than one-man pontifications is a major reason why

the remnant is so divided and confused...

The second of the basic gifts of prophecy is exhortation,

which is, according to the dictionary, "To urge by strong,

often stirring argument, admonition, advice, or appeal... ."

The gift of Ruach Ha Kodesh and the utterances He

inspires will often serve to greatly encourage the

remnant, and re-energize our spirits for the day-to-day

difficulties and challenges that face all of us who seek to

live holy and consecrated lives in Y'shua...

There are those among us who suggest that the "hooping"

of 'black' preachers for example, is not ministry at all, but

nothing more than a show. And while in many instances

this is no doubt the case, we must also know that this rich

tradition, which many have misused to gain followers unto

themselves, was born as a legitimate gift of the Spirit, only

to be co-opted by the wicked, and exploited for personal

gain.

And yet, as with all things, we must strike a balance

between teaching AND preaching. To be sure, YHWH by

the mouth of the prophet Hoshea (Hosea) declared, "My

people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." And not a

lack of entertainment, I might also say. But at the same

time, the positive spiritual impact of a stirring, heartfelt

exhortation in the Spirit is self-evident, and in my

judgment, without question. Let there be no doubt - this

ability is in great measure what has kept us, O Israel,

through the long and bitter winter of our captivity...

The third basic gift of prophecy is consolation, which is

simply the comforting of one another, again, through the

inevitable trials and tribulations we face as disciples of

Y'shua.

A word of consolation, fitly spoken, serves as a kind of

spiritual balm for our wounds. And although this beautiful

gift seems to be less popular than the more 'high profile'

gifts, the binding up of the broken or wounded in spirit is

without question a necessary and very real gift of Ruach Ha

Qodesh to the body of Messiah/Christ... After all, Y'shua

declared according to the prophecy of YeshaYahu (Isaiah),

that YAH "...hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted".

(YeshaYahu [Isaiah] 61:1). HalleluYAH!

Finally my brethren, it is written, "...believe in YHWH your

Elohim (the Lord your God), so shall you be established;

believe His prophets, so shall you prosper" (2 Divrei Ha

Yamim [2 Chronicles] 20:20).

Surely, without the prophets of YAH, the body of Messiah/

Christ has no eyes - unsightly and disfiguring, not to

mention dysfunctional...

And just as importantly, without the inspired utterances of

consecrated Spirit-filled believers, the body of Messiah/

Christ has no spark, without which genuine forward

spiritual motion as a nation is impossible - foolish and

wasteful, not to mention immobilizing...

O nation, greatly beloved, I simply cannot over-emphasize

our need to come into a new and renewed understanding

of the prophetic!

We must finally submit ourselves to, and endure the rod of

correction, and the divine judgment of the prophets, as well

as fully reinstitute the exercise of the prophetic gifts given

to us all - that we may become a suitable bride for

Mashiach; crowned with glory, and honor, and praise; and

beautifully adorned with divine knowledge, wisdom, and

understanding! Ahmein & Amen.

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