Prophets Calling

“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.” (2 Peter 1:10)

What does it mean to be called? In this case, it’s a divine summons from God regarding a spiritual vocation,  profession or job assignment for His’ Kingdom. It’s a strong inner urge, prompting or conviction of an inner summoning to do a work for God. The prophetic calling is a divine invitation to become a partner with God in helping fulfill His plans and purpose on Earth. In Greek, the word call is metakaleo, which implies change. Expect change to come into your life and expect to bring change to others. Calling also means to be summoned for a mission, profession, commission, task and assignment.  It’s also a strong impulse or inclination to respond to an inner calling. Once called, the prophet has the ability to operate between two worlds – Heaven and Earth. Prophets are the mouthpieces of God. As a prophet you have a professional position in the house of God. You’re employed by God, given a specific job assignment or duties to perform for His Kingdom. The Office of a prophet is a divine position, ministry calling and/or summon from God. Functions of the prophetic office include: prophesying; bringing edification, (1 Cor. 14:3)  exhortation (1 Cor. 14:3) and comfort to people; (1 Cor. 14:3) and also communicating God’s correction, (1 Tim. 4:14) warning, confirmation (Acts 15:32), direction and judgment (1 Cor. 14:3,4, Hos. 6:5), impartation (Deuteronomy 34:9). The prophet’s main function is to bridge gaps between man and God and to bring people to repentance.

The prophet’s purpose includes perfecting the saints for the work of ministry, edifying, building up and teaching the Body of Christ to become mature in the faith. “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:” (Eph.4:11-13).

When a prophet imparts they deposit anointing and gifts.  Prophetic anointing releases impartation that causes things to be established, made strong and firm within a person life and ministry. Through the impartation of  laying on of  Moses’ hand Joshua received an  impartation of wisdom to complete His assignment.

Spiritual Gifts

1 Corinthians 12:3-9, Romans 12:1-8
The gifts of the Spirit are gifts, talents and abilities given by God to facilitate individuals calling to work  in the ministry. These are gifts of the Holy Spirit as listed in  the book of Corinthians and Romans. Many believers think they are prophets because they can prophesy (that is)  speaking into peoples’ lives. They are operating the gift of prophecy and not the office. ” But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, encouragement and comfort.” – 1 Corinthians 14:3

The gift of prophecy speaks to people to upbuild, encourage and consulate. This gift of prophecy lacks the ability and power  to enforce, invoke, predict, illuminate, impart, correct, give direction and mobilize the power of their prophecies as with the Office of prophet.  Gifts must be governed by love. “And now abideth faith, hope charity, these three; but the greatest of thes is charity (love).” – 1 Cor. 13:13.

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. Just making a lots of noise but producing no fruit.” – 1 Cor. 13:1.

“Love suffereth long, and is KIND, envieth not, vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seek not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evi, rejoice not in iniquity, but the truth, bear all things, believe, hope and endure things.” – 1 Cor. 13:4-7.

Terminology

  • Word of Wisdom—the divine ability to understand what is revealed.
  • Word of Knowledge—the divine ability to know something outside of natural means about a person, place, or thing.
  • Faith—believing God, regardless of how it looks in the natural.
  • Gift of Healing—a divine gift to bring healing and restoration.
  • Working of Miracles—a divine operational ability that executes supernatural acts of God.
  • Prophecy—the divine ability to receive from God the hidden truth and relay it in the natural realm.
  • Discerning of Spirits—the divine ability to see or peer into the spirit realm, discerning angels, demonic forces and the Lord Jesus Christ.
  • Speaking in Tongues—the Divine ability to speak in a supernatural language that has never been learned, but given by the unction of the Holy Spirit.
  • Interpretation of Tongues—the divine ability to interpret the supernatural message of one who speaks in tongues given by the Holy Spirit. The above list are only a few of the many gifts given by the Holy Spirit.

The Doctrine Of Reincarnation

Most of the world believes in some sort of life after death. These views fall into four broad categories, Resurrection, Reincarnation, Universalism and Divinity. The Bible speaks of the resurrection of the dead.

According to Webster’s Dictionary, Resurrection means to rise from the dead, or the coming back to life, whereas Reincarnation means the rebirth of the soul in supposedly another body.

The doctrine of reincarnation states the soul of man reappears after death and comes back in another or  different bodily form. It states the spirit comes back to the earth’s plane many times in order to experience physical life, under a variety of circumstances and conditions and that after physical death, we live in a realm of the spirit, gradually evolving in our consciousness and in our oneness with God.

Reincarnation doctrine is roots in Hinduism and states that reincarnation is the cycle of a person after dying, returning  to about anything, as a cow, crow, or as another person. Some claim to have memories and abilities carried over from one life to another. The doctrine of reincarnation is nothing more than a lie from Satan to deceived people that there is another way to get to God. Satan is always trying to counterfeit the Word of God. (1 Cor. 15:52). Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day according to the scripture.

And we will also rise at the resurrection with our new bodies and not as a reincarnation being.  (1 Cor. 15:3, Roman 10:9-10, Matthews Chapter 28.)

Christ wasn’t floating around in mid-air nor after his’ death did He come back as an animal or another person from a past life. His same body the bled, died and was buried was resurrected, never to die again. Jesus was seen by Cephas, the twelve and over five hundred brethren after his resurrection. This is the greatest proof of the resurrection and life after death we can have on record.

Two Men, Two Destinies

Luke 16:19- 31

  1. There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day. 
  2. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who lay at his gate.
  3. Desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table.
  4. So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.
  5. And being in torment in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 
  6. Then he cried and said, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.” 
  7. But Abraham said, Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise, Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.
  8. And besides, all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to   pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.
  9. Then he said, I beg you; therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house.
  10. For I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.” 
  11. Abraham said to him, they have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
  12. And he said, No father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent. 
  13. But he said to him, if they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead.

Many would have you believe that this passage of scripture is a fairy tale or fable.  But Jesus said, “there was a certain rich man that went to hell”, (a place prepared for the devil and his angels). Please do not take this out of context. It doesn’t mean all rich people are going to hell. Only those who do not accept Christ as their Savior.  The beggar died and as soon as he departed his earthly life, the angels immediately carried his spirit to a place called Abraham’s bosom, the place of the righteous dead at that time which is now in the heavens. His body was on earth in the grave, but his spirit was with God. “Desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom.  The rich man also died and was buried.”  (Luke 16:21), notice this verse says the angels took him.

Request # 1
Notice verse 24 says, “The rich man recognized he was being tormented in a flames.”  He was informed by Abraham to think back during his lifetime. Remember he is dead, but his spirit is somewhere else and he is having a dialogue with Father Abraham. This verse also stated that he thirst for water.  His appetite was alive. He requested Lazarus dip the tip of his finger in water to cool his tongue.  Notice verse 25 says, “the rich man memory was intact. But Abraham said, son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receiveth thy good things and Lazarus evil.” 

Request # 2
The rich man request was for Lazarus to go back to earth and testify to his five brothers and tell them not to come to this place.

I pray thee send Lazarus to my Father’s house. I have five brethren that (he) may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

Requests denied Luke 16:29-31
Abraham saith unto him. They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them.  And he said, nay, father Abraham, but if one went unto them from the dead they will repent.

And he said unto the rich man, if they hear not Moses and the prophets, either will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead. Now, my friend, God does not want you to disturb the dead in any way, especially through séance, in order to obtain any kind of guidance. God stated in (Deuteronomy 18:10-12)

“ Let no one be found among you … who practices divination (black magic or white), or sorcery, interprets omens (one who call on the evil spirit for aid), engages in witchcraft (fortune teller, sorcerer), or casts spell, or who is a medium, spiritist (consults with spirits) or necromancer (consult the dead) anyone who does these things are detestable to the Lord (NIV).

Beloved, no one knows the way to  heaven or hell; therefore, when we die an angel will come and escort us to our destination.