David Diga Hernandez - The Spirit Speaks: Prophets

The prophetic is God’s gift to the Church, and prophetic people are also God’s gift to the Church. Ephesians chapter 4, verse 11 says, «Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the Church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors, and the teachers.» Again, Ephesians chapter 4, verse 11. All the ministries in the fivefold ministry mentioned in Ephesians 4:11 are important; all of them are gifts to the body of Christ. However, I want to focus on the prophetic. Prophets are important to the body of Christ, and we must not neglect prophetic people. Now, I understand that there are those who abuse the title of prophet. They manipulate the Word of God, some try to make money off of it, and others try to gain power over people with their titles. I know that some people can act very strangely, and I understand that. Nevertheless, we must also recognize that there is such a thing as a genuine prophetic gift. I am an evangelist with a teaching gift; I am not necessarily considered a prophet, but I need prophetic people in my life whom God works through. Why would God give us any gift that wasn’t necessary? If God has given a gift to the Church, it is because it is necessary for the Church to function. You and I both need prophetic people in our lives.

1 Thessalonians chapter 5, verses 19 through 21 say this: «Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said; hold on to what is good.» Then, 1 Corinthians chapter 14, verse 29 says, «Let two or three prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said.» So, just because someone is prophetic does not mean that they are above questioning. I will talk a little more about this in just a moment, but I want to establish this thought before I go into the meat of the message: the prophetic is necessary. Prophetic people are needed. God will send prophetic people at key moments to speak words that liberate you, encourage you, move you forward, or help you to become unstuck spiritually. At the same time, while we value the prophetic gift and prophetic people, we must not give to prophetic people unbiblical authority over ourselves. We must not give prophetic people the fullness of our trust. Remember, we have a more sure word of prophecy, and that is the written Word of God.

Throughout this series, I have talked to you about various ways that the Holy Spirit speaks. I’ve discussed dreams, visions, and now prophetic people. At the beginning of every one of these lessons, I have emphasized this point: these expressions of the Holy Spirit’s voice, though He does use them, are not in and of themselves our source for the truth. Our source for truth ultimately is the Word of God, and you must compare everything a prophetic voice speaks to you with the written Word of God. You also must compare everything a prophetic voice speaks to you with what God has spoken to you by His Holy Spirit. So, prophets are not the final authority on anything; prophets are not necessarily God on earth. I mean, I understand that none of us are God, and I hope you understand that too. However, God can, at moments, speak a certain word through certain people. But we must never trust people blindly; we must never give them the full authority over our spiritual lives that belongs to Scripture. Christ is our head; Scripture is our source of truth.

Now, pastors, evangelists, teachers, prophets, and apostles are sent to guide us spiritually. They are sent to correct us, rebuke us, and help keep us on the right path. However, you must remember that if they ever contradict the Word of God, they are not to be obeyed. So, don’t let anyone manipulate you with the title of prophet, saying, «I’m a prophet, and therefore you must listen to me,» or «I’m a prophet; you must do what I say,» or «You can’t question me.» That’s nonsense. Don’t fall for that kind of manipulation. We do see, nonetheless, that prophets play a very vital role in the Church.

Now, prophets, biblically speaking, have many different aspects to their ministry. First and foremost, prophets confront. In 2 Samuel chapter 12, verses 1 through 12, we see that the prophet Nathan goes to David to confront his sin. Many of us know the story: King David, at a time when kings go out to war, stayed home. He looked upon a married woman with lust, invited her into his home, and they, of course, did things that were not supposed to be done. King David sinned; he committed adultery and caused that woman, Bathsheba, to commit adultery as well. Then, to cover the fact that he got her pregnant, he had her husband killed. It is a very dramatic narrative in that portion of Scripture. But fast forward to 2 Samuel chapter 12, verses 1 to 12, where you see that Nathan comes to David to confront that sin. David thought he had gotten away with it; he thought the sin was buried and that it was done. He intended never to look at it again, but instead of getting his sin right with God, he covered it up. He hid it and tried to make it seem like he never did anything wrong. He believed he was off the hook—until a prophet came and confronted him.