In old covenant, there was a prophetic concentration of the mind and will of the Lord upon a small number of people. The priests were allowed so where an ephod, a priestly breastplate that contained the Urim and Thummim which represented the light and perfection of God. The Urim represented oracle brilliance and the Thummim was the emblem of complete truth. People could go to the priest to inquire of the Lord concerning a manner in which they needed prayer for direction. Alternatively, they could inquire in his temple in an act of worship and prayer.
Seeking the face of God- was to present himself before the priest, or personally in the temple, to make petition-literally, to desire a favorable audience with the Lord as Hannah did when praying for a child-1 Samuel 1: 7-11. Or David’s experience in Psalm 27: 4-8.
People could also inquire the prophets. This was an acceptable practice in the old covenant. Prophets spoke from God to the people and also inquired of the Lord for the people. All prophets occupy a place of intercession and enjoy spending time in the presence of God not just for the sake of their ministry, but also as a personal place of relational adoration.
All of this activity comes to a place of closure in Christ. John the Baptist was the last of the Old Testament prophets who came to prepare a way for people to follow Jesus, who is the first of the new covenant prophets. He must increase, I must decrease, spoke John, signifying an end to the Old Testament prophetic methodology.
Abiding empowers our vision.
Jesus came to do the father’s will-namely, to take away the first covenant in order to establish the second-Hebrews 10: 9. The Holy Spirit also testifies to the new covenant- Hebrews 10: 15-18. The old covenant dies in Christ (Romans 10: 4), and we are sanctified once and for all-Hebrews 10: 10.
Jesus is a prophet, priest and king. He is the one authorized to stand before God and shed forth this which we see and hear-Acts 2: 33. These people know his voice (John 10: 4) and are able to hear his voice- John 10: 27.
Now we have the indwelling Spirit of God who speaks to us, and through each one of us. Speaking on behalf of God is now a distinct possibility for everyone in Christ. It does not make us prophets-just simply people who can hear his voice and be a blessing and encouragement to others.
As people in relationship with God, we no longer require a go between to enable us to discern the intent and purposes of God. The father can and will use other people to speak to us. However, he prefers face to face, immediate and personal relationship with each of his children.
Inquiring of a prophet or asking for a prophecy is now illegal behavior. Guidance is the byproduct of a right relationship with God.
The chief role of a New Testament prophet is to help people to discover the voice of God for themselves. We teach people how God speaks and how to listen. We teach them how to discern and express the will of the father in a way in which people can both receive and respond. We teach people how to explore the heart of God, understand his nature, and express his character. In the context of this training, New Testament prophets model the prophetic ministry in a good news context.
Prophets also give inspired messages by prophetic utterance and through prophetic teaching or preaching. They understand the times and seasons and seek to prepare people for what the Lord wants to do next.
They may have words of direction, correction, and warning that require a more dynamic protocol in terms of accountability and a more strategic relationship with leaders.
In the Old Testament, we see a prophetic concentration of the gift among a small number of people. In the New Testament, we see a prophetic distribution of the gift among multitudes.
This is why we have schools of prophecy-so that we can develop people relationally to hear the voice of God. All spiritual training is relational, not merely educational. We are training people to live in the Spirit, developing the heart and nature of God.
We need to receive people on their journeys and learn to come alongside them in their stories. Life is full of relational applications, and walking with God in the process of living is an exercise in harmony and sensitivity.