Foundations of Christian Leadership, Student Workbook, SW07

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F O U N D A T I O N S O F C H R I S T I A N L E A D E R S H I P

A Theological Overview of the Equipping Gifts Described in Ephesians 4.11 (continued)

Graham Houston nuances this view further by arguing that even in the Old Testament there was a distinction between types of prophecy. There was the authoritative word from the Lord which had a uniquely binding character (like the NT Apostles) but there were also many instances “ where a type of prophecy is described which seems to have been regarded differently, not so much as a revelation of God’s secrets but as a powerful sign of his presence with his people at crucial times in the unfolding of God’s purposes ” ( Prophecy: A Gift for Today? Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1989, p. 35). Among instances of this less authoritative, secondary-type prophecy could be named King Saul’s sudden bout of prophecy that changed his mind about pursing David and the prophecy of the seventy elders in Numbers 11 which did not result in a specific recorded message but was a confirming sign of God’s presence with them. Likewise, Moses’ desire that all of God’s people become prophets (Num. 11.29) seems to suggest by necessity this second-order prophecy focused on God’s presence and leading rather than authoritative pronouncements of the Divine will and corresponds closely to Joel’s prophetic vision of a time when the Spirit would be poured out in such a way that all of God’s people both young and old, male and female, would receive prophetic words and visions (Joel 2.28). Prophecy is the open proclamation of a revealed message from God which prepares the Church for obedience to him and to the Scriptures. In New Testament practice the prophetic message is received spontaneously and declared immediately (i.e. it is not something prepared in advance). New Testament prophecy is associated with a variety of spiritual functions including guidance, comfort, exhortation, and prediction. It is not itself a proclamation of the Gospel but rather a means by which the principles of Scripture can be more clearly understood in regard to a particular situation. Its purpose is always to strengthen the Church. All Christian traditions have some means by which people can affirm, “I believe that God is saying to us that . . . .” Whenever God’s voice is discerned to be speaking among us, a prophetic word has been given. Prophecy encourages, guides, and motivates obedience to God among a particular people facing particular situations. It is always judged by it conformity to

C. Summary