This weekend I found myself having a rather unexpected conversation with a friend about whether or not prophets exist today. I decided to do a little research to find specific biblical references that lead to me believe what I believe about modern-day prophets. My definition of prophet is different from the public’s common definition of prophet. I’m not talking about Nostradamus or Mohammed that predict the future or start religions. I’m talking about humble servants who act as messengers for God. Now of course, I believe God can speak directly to his children through prayer and the living word, but I believe God also uses prophets when a) he wants to speak to a specific group of people, or b) we just aren’t being diligent in word or prayer to hear for ourselves what he has to say.
1 Cor 14 describes what “orderly worship” should looks like. I’ve pulled out verses that specifically relate to prophets:
26 When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.
29Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 30And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. 33For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.
36Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? 37If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command. 38If he ignores this, he himself will be ignored.
39Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy,
1 Cor 12 is the known as apostle Paul’s instruction on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. These are supernatural gifts that God gives to his people (through God’s spirit) for the purpose of building up the body of believers and doing God’s will here on Earth:
7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31But eagerly desire the greater gifts.
1 Cor 13 is commonly known as the Love Chapter. It describes what perfect love looks like. It’s no coincidence that it is sandwiched between the two most authoritative chapters on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. God wants us to use these gifts to demonstrate his love for them. Moreover, without love, these gifts are meaningless.
1 Cor 13:2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
However, Jesus warns us to be aware that false prophets do exist:
Matt 7:15-18 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
As an aside, Paul later describes exactly what good and bad fruit look like:
Gal 5:
19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Moses also warned us to be aware of false prophets:
Deut 18:20-22 But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die. And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?’
When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.
Paul also warns us to be aware of false prophets, but does it immediately after telling us to respect prophecies:
1 Thes 5:20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21Test everything.
Because God is unchanging, everything a prophet says must be in agreement with everything God has already said in his written Word. This is another reason it is important to know your bible, so that you will not be led astray by false prophets.
And finally, those who have the responsibility of church leadership and those who have been given the spiritual gifts of wisdom and discernment should evaluate all spoken prophetic words and taken action to correct anything they believe may not truly be from God.
I believe prophets are currently operating within their respective churches today, but probably not to the extent that they should be, and the church as a whole has never given prophets the respect they deserve. Their job is to deliver messages from God to the people of God. 1 Cor 14:4 and 26 tells us that prophecy is for people in the church, not really for people outside the church. This would also help explain why the world at large is not aware of modern-day prophets.
But we do also have examples like Jonah who was given a message for people who did not worship God. So prophets are not restricted to only speak to God’s people. But it makes sense to me that it would be much less common because most likely an unbelieving person would not respect the claimed authority of the prophet anyway. However, Moses, Malachi, and the apostle John all prophesied that before/during the end times a different kind of prophet would appear, prophets who will amaze the world by the supernatural things they do and say so that people will know the end is near and hopefully turn to God.