Prophetic Office in the New Testament
By Apostle Aje Pelser
Preached at Harvester Reformational Church, Cape Town July 2016

Principles applying to the office of prophet in the New Testament.

There are various examples of prophetic activity around Jesus’ birth and around his resurrection. Our Lord and Messiah Himself operated like an Old Testament prophet, fulfilling every part of the Law in Himself until it was finished on the cross. Once there was the death of the Testator, the New Testament was in effect in the newly planted Church – built on Apostles and Prophets with Jesus Christ Himself the Chief Cornerstone. Ephesians 2:20.

Heb 9:15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
Heb 9:16 For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
Heb 9:17 For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives.
The Good news is that He also rose again to check if His testament is being executed correctly:
Heb 9:28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

Plumb Line for New Testament Prophets
To be a New Testament Prophet, there is the following plumb line:
Rev 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, \”… Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.\”

Here lies the key to discerning false prophets: they draw people after themselves and do not testify of Jesus. Some even fall into deception and start believing they are Christ themselves.
Even the Beast in Revelation works with a prophet.

Safety in Submission
The safety of New Testament prophets is that they should be in the Church:

Act 13:1 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
Act 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, \”Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.\”
Act 13:3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
Act 13:4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

Notice how the prophets operated in conjunction with teachers. That brings balance to the prophetic word and the office of a prophet in church terms. There is a careful waiting on the Lord and then an unction for sending apostolic teams – Barnabas being the prophetic part of the Barnabas And Saul duo at this stage. Later Silas is said to have been a prophet too –
Act 15:30 So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.
Act 15:31 When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement.
Act 15:32 Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words.
Act 15:33 And after they had stayed there for a time, they were sent back with greetings from the brethren to the apostles.
Act 15:34 However, it seemed good to Silas to remain there.
Act 15:35 Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

There seems to be a good flow of communication and accountability that is rare in church circles even today with more means of communication. Silas had delivered the instructions for new believers to Antioch, but chose to remain there afterwards.
Silas exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words – a mark of prophetic function. But here there is a higher gear of the gift of prophecy.
Apostle Paul later chose Silas and they went and experienced the same sufferings together in Philippi as well as the miraculous events along the way. See also Acts 16 and the supernatural jailbreak!
That Philippian church was definitely established with an apostle and a prophet around Jesus Christ the cornerstone! The jailer got saved and his household along with him! Later that church really helped Paul’s apostolic ministry throughout the known world, more so than any other group of believers and of the early church.

Prophesying in Part
When Agabus and the believers at Antioch tried to stop him from going to Jerusalem because of Agabus\’ acting prophecy, indicating with Paul\’s girdle his imminent arrest, Paul rebuked them all and said, \”Why is it that you are trying to stop me from doing God\’s will? I am not afraid to be bound in Jerusalem. I am prepared to die for the Gospel\’s sake. Leave me alone. I have a job to finish!\” (Acts 21:13)
SO it is possible that Agabus’ emotions led him to interpret the prophecy as a warning, rather than part of the sufferings of Christ that Apostle Paul had to fulfil – recall Ananias’ prophecy to Saul in Damascus:
Act 9:15 But the Lord said to him, \”Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.
Act 9:16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name\’s sake.\”

Prophetic Provision during Famine
On a positive note, Prophet Agabus was instrumental in helping the Church of Antioch through famine:
Act 11:27 And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch.
Act 11:28 Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar.
Act 11:29 Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea.
Act 11:30 This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

“This visit of Agabus to Antioch took place in the winter of 43-44 ad, and was the means of urging the Antiochian Christians to send relief to the brethren in Judea by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.” International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.

Revelation of Jesus Christ
When John received the prophetic message of revelation of Jesus Christ to share with the 7 churches, it was clear that an element of Christ was being revealed to each church where needed. If you understand that scripture interprets scripture, it brings safety and you do not have all sorts of wild end time teachings emerging, causing people to go and wait on a hill on a certain date – that actually happened outside Johannesburg! The whole story culminates in the wedding supper of the Lamb:

Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.\”
Rev 19:8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
Rev 19:9 Then he said to me, \”Write: \’Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!\’ \” And he said to me, \”These are the true sayings of God.\”
Rev 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, \”See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.\”

That is why we labour to see Christ formed in people. So that the Bride can make herself ready, washed and arrayed in white, without spot and wrinkle, ready to reflect the glory of the Bridegroom for that wonderful feast of feasts! That is the essence of the prophetic office to prepare the Bride for the King. Individual prophecies should be balanced with the corporate Body of Christ in mind. That perspective will prevent the fortune telling that is so rife in many circles where prophets pick up what people want to hear and focus on that in a soulish version of the gift. “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” With focus restored onto Christ and His Dream the Church, prophets can align with God’s purposes alongside His Church and help facilitate the finish – the culmination of all prophecy from the foundation of the earth. We were always on our way back to God our Father through faith in Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.

A Prophet’s Reward
Matthew 10:41 If you receive a righteous man in the name of a righteous man, you receive a concept and pattern of righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ. If your receive a prophet in the name of a prophet you receive a prophet’s reward that is prophecy, yes, but also the ability and earnest desire to flow in the spiritual gift of prophecy. During the meeting on the 30th of July 2016, you can see how a prophetic office works – Prophet Nola Pelser stirred up the Church to prophesy and for the young people to fulfil that word – “Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy!”

Miracle Bible College has several useful subject manuals covering all the Prophetic Books of the Bible as well as practical ministry tips. Contact aje@harvesterchurch.net