Hi all,
What is a Seer? What is a prophet?
We are told this in I Samuel 9:9:"...he that was beforetime called a Seer is now called a Prophet."
Seers/prophets are gifted to see into the Lord's realm from time to time, as needed according to the Lord's will. In I Samuel 3, the Lord called Samuel by name:"Samuel, Samuel" and the young boy thought Eli the Priest was calling him. After Eli told him it was the Lord, verse 10 says:"Then the Lord came and stood as He had at the other times, and said:"Samuel, Samuel." In v15 it says Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision of the Lord. Verse 21 says from that point on the Lord appeared to Samuel as The Word of the Lord.
Samuel was the first of the seers/prophets to the nation of Israel. He was the last Judge. Previous Judges included Deborah, Gideon, Samson, and others. Samuel was the last judge and first Seer/Prophet of the new nation of Israel. He set Saul as their first king. He set the stage for all prophets to Israel that followed him, for the Lord appeared to them as 'The Word of the Lord' as well.
But seers aren't just visited by the Lord, their gift to see into the realm of the Lord is also demonstrated in the ministry of Elisha, as seen in II Kings 6:13-17. Elisha and his assistant were in a city surrounded by an enemy army of chariots, and his assistant was very afraid. Elisha prayed that the Lord also open his eyes to see what he saw, which was an angelic army also surrounding them. Elisha saw the angelic realm as well as the natural realm of the king's army surrounding the city.
When I was a teen or 16 or 17 the Father told me He had called me to be a Seer, using that term, and that was my call before that of teacher, pastor, and apostle. (Next week the definition of an apostle and their ministry) This is how it is most often for me, like an overlay of 2 dimensions, with my eyes wide open I see the natural realm and the Lord's realm.
What defines a New Testament Seer/Prophet?
The foundation upon which we build is from Ephesians 3:1-6 which says in part:"To reveal the mystery...which was kept secret from ages and generations, but is now revealed by His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and sharers together of the promise in Christ of the gospel."
This tells us the first function of apostles and prophets is to share revelation from the Lord concerning the grace given to (we) non-Jews. This is why prophets and teachers are closely related, as seen in Acts 13:1-3:"And there were certain prophets and teachers gathered...for fasting and prayer..." A prophet's main function isn't to give prophetic words, but to share revelation concerning the mysteries of Christ. Teaching and being a prophet are closely related to apostles and prophets because they are charged with revealing deeper mysteries about the work of Jesus and His ways, and giving that revelation to the body of Christ.
IF someone calls themselves an apostle or prophet, their foundational ministry is to teach and share revelation concerning what Jesus has done for us. If they don't have those deeper mysteries, if all they do is have 'prophetic' dreams, visions and words - you need to question whether they are truly a prophet (or apostle).
How is someone prophesying different from being a prophet?
Acts 11:27-28 tells us:"At that time some prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch, and one of them, Agabus, revealed by the Spirit that a great famine would happen..."
This shows us a prophet will have predictive words about things in nature, in this case a famine.
In Acts 21:10-11 we are told this of Agabus:"...he came and took Paul's belt and tied up his own hands and feet and said this; 'This is what the Holy Spirit says; The man who owns this belt will have this done to him by the Jews in Jerusalem and then they will turn him over to the Gentiles (Romans).'"
Here we see a prophet also has predictive words about the actions of governments, including at times as it relates to individuals. A prophet in these New Testament times will first of all teach and/or share about the mysteries of Christ in us and His work on the cross, resurrection, and ascension. They will see into the Spirit realm. They will have predictive words about nature, governments, and for individuals.
Compare that to Paul's definition of simple prophecy of I Corinthians 14:3:"For one who prophesies gives a person a word building them up, exhorting or comforting them." We can see a much greater depth to that of one called as a Seer/Prophet. Unfortunately, some have made great names of themselves thinking because they prophesy regularly, they are a prophet. The first time a person gives a simple prophecy it may be nothing more than saying to a person; "I sense the Lord loves you." But if they have much experience, their prophecies may be longer and more detailed - not because they are a prophet, but because they are more experienced moving in that gift. Some have thought because they do move regularly in simple prophecy they are a prophet - but actually they are just more experienced in the gift.
Remember also that other manifestations of the Spirit combine with the gifts. So that a person who may see a mini-vision of a person or situation while praying for someone, which is the discerning of spirits, may also give them a prophecy of encouragement. They aren't a prophet, the Spirit just moved through them to minister what was needed to that person. A prophet's main ministry is that of teaching and sharing about what Christ did for us, seeing in the Spirit, and giving predictive words about nature and governments.
Wisdom about personal prophecy
We can learn about personal prophecy from this exchange between Agabus and Paul in Acts 21. First, Agabus said:"This is what the Holy Spirit says." Simple prophecy is very often something perceived in one's spirit that they then put into words. More of an interpretation of what they sense in their spirit what the Lord is saying. A prophet will hear the Holy Spirit Himself. This most often happens to me, and as I've taught before from examples in Acts, when the Holy Spirit Himself speaks it is specific, concise, and direct. (Acts 8:29; 10:19) There is no vagueness nor ambiguity to it when you hear the Holy Spirit Himself speak to you. Agabus heard the Holy Spirit's specific word to Paul.
Agabus gave Paul very specific details, that he would be arrested by the Jews and turned over to the Romans in Jerusalem. The trouble that awaited him was not new information for Paul, though the specific details were new, showing a prophetic personal word will merely be a confirmation of something the Lord has already shown a person.
Earlier, in the previous chapter, Acts 20:22:24 Paul said this:"..I am compelled to go to Jerusalem, not knowing what's going to happen to me there, though the Holy Spirit testifies in every city that arrest and troubles await me. But none of these things move me because I don't count my life dear to myself..."
Paul stated everywhere he went the Holy Spirit bore witness in others that if he went to the city arrest and trouble awaited him. But he said he didn't know the specifics. After he left them in Acts 20, chapter 21 opens with Paul sailing to the city of Tyre, and finding disciples verse 4 states:"Who kept telling him through the Spirit that he should not go up to Jerusalem."
Up until this point wherever Paul went the disciples he met had a witness in their spirit, a 'bad feeling' about him going to the city - but as Paul himself admitted, 'I don't know the things that will happen to me there.' That means all those impressions, all those people, just had a vague witness in their spirit that trouble awaited him. It wasn't until Agabus the prophet provided precise information about those 'bad things' - the Jews would arrest him and turn him over to the Romans.
The personal prophecy Paul received from Agabus was about his future, but it was just specific information about things Paul already knew. Personal prophecy will not be new information - it will be a confirmation of things the Lord has already revealed to you, and as a confirming word it will have more information. Even when Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus in Acts 9:5 the Lord told him; "It is hard for you to kick against the ox-goads." An ox-goad was a pointy stick a person used from behind a 'cow' to poke them in the shoulder or read-end to keep them along the path. Jesus being the sharp two-edged sword, the Word of God, had evidently been poking Paul for some time about Him being the Messiah, and Paul was resisting. So even this meeting of Jesus was specific to the poking Paul had received from the Living Word, rather than completely new information. Jesus confirmed to him - how many of us were 'poked' by the Lord for some time before we finally gave in and believed?
Next week, apostles....until then, blessings,
John Fenn
cwowi.org and email me at [email protected]
What is a Seer? What is a prophet?
We are told this in I Samuel 9:9:"...he that was beforetime called a Seer is now called a Prophet."
Seers/prophets are gifted to see into the Lord's realm from time to time, as needed according to the Lord's will. In I Samuel 3, the Lord called Samuel by name:"Samuel, Samuel" and the young boy thought Eli the Priest was calling him. After Eli told him it was the Lord, verse 10 says:"Then the Lord came and stood as He had at the other times, and said:"Samuel, Samuel." In v15 it says Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision of the Lord. Verse 21 says from that point on the Lord appeared to Samuel as The Word of the Lord.
Samuel was the first of the seers/prophets to the nation of Israel. He was the last Judge. Previous Judges included Deborah, Gideon, Samson, and others. Samuel was the last judge and first Seer/Prophet of the new nation of Israel. He set Saul as their first king. He set the stage for all prophets to Israel that followed him, for the Lord appeared to them as 'The Word of the Lord' as well.
But seers aren't just visited by the Lord, their gift to see into the realm of the Lord is also demonstrated in the ministry of Elisha, as seen in II Kings 6:13-17. Elisha and his assistant were in a city surrounded by an enemy army of chariots, and his assistant was very afraid. Elisha prayed that the Lord also open his eyes to see what he saw, which was an angelic army also surrounding them. Elisha saw the angelic realm as well as the natural realm of the king's army surrounding the city.
When I was a teen or 16 or 17 the Father told me He had called me to be a Seer, using that term, and that was my call before that of teacher, pastor, and apostle. (Next week the definition of an apostle and their ministry) This is how it is most often for me, like an overlay of 2 dimensions, with my eyes wide open I see the natural realm and the Lord's realm.
What defines a New Testament Seer/Prophet?
The foundation upon which we build is from Ephesians 3:1-6 which says in part:"To reveal the mystery...which was kept secret from ages and generations, but is now revealed by His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and sharers together of the promise in Christ of the gospel."
This tells us the first function of apostles and prophets is to share revelation from the Lord concerning the grace given to (we) non-Jews. This is why prophets and teachers are closely related, as seen in Acts 13:1-3:"And there were certain prophets and teachers gathered...for fasting and prayer..." A prophet's main function isn't to give prophetic words, but to share revelation concerning the mysteries of Christ. Teaching and being a prophet are closely related to apostles and prophets because they are charged with revealing deeper mysteries about the work of Jesus and His ways, and giving that revelation to the body of Christ.
IF someone calls themselves an apostle or prophet, their foundational ministry is to teach and share revelation concerning what Jesus has done for us. If they don't have those deeper mysteries, if all they do is have 'prophetic' dreams, visions and words - you need to question whether they are truly a prophet (or apostle).
How is someone prophesying different from being a prophet?
Acts 11:27-28 tells us:"At that time some prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch, and one of them, Agabus, revealed by the Spirit that a great famine would happen..."
This shows us a prophet will have predictive words about things in nature, in this case a famine.
In Acts 21:10-11 we are told this of Agabus:"...he came and took Paul's belt and tied up his own hands and feet and said this; 'This is what the Holy Spirit says; The man who owns this belt will have this done to him by the Jews in Jerusalem and then they will turn him over to the Gentiles (Romans).'"
Here we see a prophet also has predictive words about the actions of governments, including at times as it relates to individuals. A prophet in these New Testament times will first of all teach and/or share about the mysteries of Christ in us and His work on the cross, resurrection, and ascension. They will see into the Spirit realm. They will have predictive words about nature, governments, and for individuals.
Compare that to Paul's definition of simple prophecy of I Corinthians 14:3:"For one who prophesies gives a person a word building them up, exhorting or comforting them." We can see a much greater depth to that of one called as a Seer/Prophet. Unfortunately, some have made great names of themselves thinking because they prophesy regularly, they are a prophet. The first time a person gives a simple prophecy it may be nothing more than saying to a person; "I sense the Lord loves you." But if they have much experience, their prophecies may be longer and more detailed - not because they are a prophet, but because they are more experienced moving in that gift. Some have thought because they do move regularly in simple prophecy they are a prophet - but actually they are just more experienced in the gift.
Remember also that other manifestations of the Spirit combine with the gifts. So that a person who may see a mini-vision of a person or situation while praying for someone, which is the discerning of spirits, may also give them a prophecy of encouragement. They aren't a prophet, the Spirit just moved through them to minister what was needed to that person. A prophet's main ministry is that of teaching and sharing about what Christ did for us, seeing in the Spirit, and giving predictive words about nature and governments.
Wisdom about personal prophecy
We can learn about personal prophecy from this exchange between Agabus and Paul in Acts 21. First, Agabus said:"This is what the Holy Spirit says." Simple prophecy is very often something perceived in one's spirit that they then put into words. More of an interpretation of what they sense in their spirit what the Lord is saying. A prophet will hear the Holy Spirit Himself. This most often happens to me, and as I've taught before from examples in Acts, when the Holy Spirit Himself speaks it is specific, concise, and direct. (Acts 8:29; 10:19) There is no vagueness nor ambiguity to it when you hear the Holy Spirit Himself speak to you. Agabus heard the Holy Spirit's specific word to Paul.
Agabus gave Paul very specific details, that he would be arrested by the Jews and turned over to the Romans in Jerusalem. The trouble that awaited him was not new information for Paul, though the specific details were new, showing a prophetic personal word will merely be a confirmation of something the Lord has already shown a person.
Earlier, in the previous chapter, Acts 20:22:24 Paul said this:"..I am compelled to go to Jerusalem, not knowing what's going to happen to me there, though the Holy Spirit testifies in every city that arrest and troubles await me. But none of these things move me because I don't count my life dear to myself..."
Paul stated everywhere he went the Holy Spirit bore witness in others that if he went to the city arrest and trouble awaited him. But he said he didn't know the specifics. After he left them in Acts 20, chapter 21 opens with Paul sailing to the city of Tyre, and finding disciples verse 4 states:"Who kept telling him through the Spirit that he should not go up to Jerusalem."
Up until this point wherever Paul went the disciples he met had a witness in their spirit, a 'bad feeling' about him going to the city - but as Paul himself admitted, 'I don't know the things that will happen to me there.' That means all those impressions, all those people, just had a vague witness in their spirit that trouble awaited him. It wasn't until Agabus the prophet provided precise information about those 'bad things' - the Jews would arrest him and turn him over to the Romans.
The personal prophecy Paul received from Agabus was about his future, but it was just specific information about things Paul already knew. Personal prophecy will not be new information - it will be a confirmation of things the Lord has already revealed to you, and as a confirming word it will have more information. Even when Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus in Acts 9:5 the Lord told him; "It is hard for you to kick against the ox-goads." An ox-goad was a pointy stick a person used from behind a 'cow' to poke them in the shoulder or read-end to keep them along the path. Jesus being the sharp two-edged sword, the Word of God, had evidently been poking Paul for some time about Him being the Messiah, and Paul was resisting. So even this meeting of Jesus was specific to the poking Paul had received from the Living Word, rather than completely new information. Jesus confirmed to him - how many of us were 'poked' by the Lord for some time before we finally gave in and believed?
Next week, apostles....until then, blessings,
John Fenn
cwowi.org and email me at [email protected]
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