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Hearing the 'word of the Lord' was a spiritual experience of the prophets; not a formal function of office as the pagan court-prophets, but rather the product of a personal godly relationship to the Most High. In the Old Testament this phrase is a technical term meaning a divine prophetic utterance. In the New Testament, the phrase 'word of the Lord' occurs 15 times, as 'logos' (12 times) and 'rhema' (3 times), referring to John the Baptist's prophetic call, prophetic statements of Jesus, and His gospel message preached.
In all these – the inspiration of the Spirit of God is assumed.
This supernatural experience was the primary source out of which the written revelation of God was born – the Bible. Yet, an examination of the Bible indicates that every 'word of the Lord' did not become part of this written revelation. Nor did the written revelation supersede or take the place of this 'word of the Lord'.
Rather, true prophetic experience preceded, accompanied, and continued after the formation of the written Word of God.
The Bible in its original text represents that ministry of God's prophets, and is a commentary on that ministry from an inspired perspective: refined and sanitized from all human error (to which even the greatest prophets were themselves subject), and edited for all future generations. (This of course does not ignore the textual scars in our Bible which testify to human unfaithfulness and scribal copying errors).
Fear of false prophecy generated the idea that prophecy ended when the Bible was complete, but the built-in safeguard for us is God's own consistency for He will never contradict Himself. |
Thus the Bible serves today as a navigation reference against which any direction received through a 'word of the Lord' can be verified in its character. Nor can counterfeit claims of inspiration deny the authentic, anymore than does the existence of counterfeit currency deny the existence of the genuine. Rather it confirms it.
There is also nothing in the Bible to support the nonsense that this 'word of the Lord' ceased either when the Bible was complete, or when Jerusalem city was destroyed in 70 AD, or when the last of the 12 foundational apostles died.
One scripture actually abused to this end is in reality a precious promise about the second coming of our blessed Lord Jesus Christ:
"For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
But when the perfect comes, then that which is in part will be caused to cease.
...Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.
Now I know in part, then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."
But when the perfect comes, then that which is in part will be caused to cease.
...Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.
Now I know in part, then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."
The Spirit of God is as directly involved in the life of the Church today as He ever was at any time in the past!
The prophetic ministry today is far more than an inspired explanation of Bible texts. It is the living voice of the Lord among His sheep and it is recognized by those who are His; those whose hearts resonate to it in the same Spirit of God.
The humanity of God in Jesus Christ is our complete example.
How Jesus, without any human mentor, knew to say and to do as He did is not a mystery to be embroidered by speculation. The Bible tells us plainly. His human experience of learning this ministry is laid open for us in the Holy Scriptures.
Compare the words of Jesus in Isaiah 50:4 given in these translations of its messianic prophecy:
| – WHAT? | ||
| "The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. |
"The Lord GOD hath given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: |
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| – HOW? | ||
| Morning by morning He awakens;
He awakens My ear to hear as those who are taught." (ESV) |
He wakeneth morning by morning,
He wakeneth Mine ear to hear as the learned." (KJV) |
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This illuminating prophecy describes the Messiah's daily encounter with God. He awoke to spiritual communion with God before the beginning of His day, every day. In this, Christ is the continuing pattern for all those who follow Him!
This daily devotion created the sensitivity of the man Jesus to the values, concerns, and affections of God-Most-High, which grew in this intimate place of hearing for the young Messiah.
It has been said that God only shares His thoughts with those who share His attitude. This is true in a general sense. God does not gossip. He does not speak simply because we have questions and are curious.
The place of prayer is a place of hearing, before it is a place of speaking! Until the Spirit of God has filled the worshipping heart, there is no place for words other than in thanksgiving and praise. But the human mind naturally wanders from the holy presence. In this respect, words are the feet of the mind. If the mind is to hear God it needs to be sufficiently serious so as to move the tongue accordingly. Silent prayer has its place, but not when one's whole being waits in His presence.
As the Bible commands us:
"Through Him then let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually,
that is, the fruit of lips which make confession to His name." (Heb.13:15).
that is, the fruit of lips which make confession to His name." (Heb.13:15).
