PROPHETIC MINISTRY
[p. 361] PROPHETIC MINISTRY
1 Corinthians 14:23 - 33; John 4:15 - 27; 1 Samuel 19:19 - 24
JT Our subject at this time, according to the arrangement with the brethren here, is prophetic ministry, a subject which has become of great interest among the brethren universally, and as these meetings for prophetic ministry are not generally held in this country, it is thought the Lord would help at this time as to this matter.
Our first scripture is the formal injunction or commandment, as we might say, as to it. Verse 37 shows, that this epistle is, as it were, a commandment by itself: “If any one thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him recognise the things that I write to you, that it is the Lord’s commandment”. Therefore in this passage, “If therefore the whole assembly come together in one place ...” the ‘if’ does not mean that the matter is optional. The verse implies that brethren have meetings of this kind, and the instruction is that the whole assembly in a city or town should come together in one place for the purpose.
Ques Can it be said that such a meeting is “in assembly”?
JT The wording is different from chapter 11:18: “When ye come together in assembly”. The wording is different in that the article is found in chapter 14:23, meaning that all the saints are there, and are viewed as the whole assembly. Thus in a city where there are some subdivisions of the assembly (more than one meeting), the meeting for prophetic ministry is not limited to one of the subdivisions. A subdivision may come together “in assembly” to partake of the Lord’s supper. But here it is “the whole assembly come together in one place”.
Ques Brothers and sisters?
JT Yes.
Rem Otherwise it would not be the assembly.
JT You can see the advantage of such a meeting if taken up according to this scripture.
Rem If I understand it properly, it is a special occasion which God uses for speaking to the assembly.
JT The whole chapter deals with the subject of prophetic ministry, and these verses present it in a very concrete way. The effect of the ministry is described: “If all prophesy, and some unbeliever or simple person come in, he is convicted of all, he is judged of all; the secrets of his heart are manifested; and thus, falling upon his face, he will do homage to God, reporting that God is indeed amongst you”. We may not have such a striking result in it today, but the principle is there that prophetic ministry searches our hearts.
Rem The first book of Samuel would confirm that; Saul fell on his face.
JT It is doubtful that he was searched really, that he was convicted of sin. Subsequent facts show that he was not really affected; he only came under the power of the ministry for the moment. But in 1 Corinthians 14 we have an example of genuine conviction by prophetic ministry. In our times we all need this in a general way.
Ques Why is the man said to be an unbeliever, a simple person?
JT It is “some unbeliever or simple person”, to show what God had in the city of Corinth. The Lord had told Paul that He had “much people in this city” (Acts 18:10). And the assembly having been formed, this advantage was there — it became in that way the vessel in God’s hands for securing these people. Not only were they convicted and converted, as we say, but they became worshippers. The need in our [p. 363] times in this respect is very great. All about us there are our brethren who are more or less in darkness, and every effort should be put forth to cause them to judge themselves, so that they might be delivered and become worshippers.
Ques Is it that God has some special communications to give, and without such meetings these communications will be missed?
JT Whenever we give God an opportunity according to His direction, He never fails to come in; as we give Him the opportunity for speaking prophetically, He certainly will come in for us. Thus in the beginning of the chapter we have: “Follow after love, and be emulous of spiritual manifestations, but rather that ye may prophesy”. As brethren in a locality become sensible of the need of prophecy, they will desire to have ability to prophesy. Thus God will have vessels for the purpose.
Ques It is thought in general that our meetings have a private character, but is it supposed here that the meeting is public?
JT The first and second epistles to the Corinthians contemplate the public service of the assembly. To use an illustration, you might find in the city of Corinth on a certain street a Jewish synagogue, a heathen temple, and a christian assembly. We can see therefore the great advantage for God, as well as for men, of the public assembly as contemplated in our chapter. So that in view of securing our brethren and others, we can see the wisdom of having suitable meeting-rooms such as any christian or any person would feel liberty to enter.
Rem There is no reason therefore why we should seek an out-of-the-way place for a meeting room.
JT What is of God should be available to men; there should be nothing to prejudice it. That applies not only for the preaching of the gospel, but for meetings for prophetic ministry as well.
[p. 364] Ques To hold such a meeting is it necessary that the whole assembly should meet?
JT That is what is stated: “If therefore the whole assembly come together in one place”.
Ques Is it possible that the whole assembly should meet together, because there is an “if” here?
JT I do not think it is an optional “if”; it is really an injunction. According to verse 37 it is imperative, for the whole epistle is a commandment.
Ques If at this meeting some brothers and sisters are missing, what would be the result?
JT They would be losers, and at the same time they would witness to their unfaithfulness. Also, the whole position becomes relatively weakened thereby. Acts 2:1 tells us that the first assembly meeting had all the saints in it: “they were all together in one place”. That is the foundational thought of the assembly, and we are enjoined in Hebrews 10:25 not to forsake “the assembling of ourselves together”.
Ques Do we see in Thomas in John 20 what may be missed by staying away from the meeting?
JT That is a striking illustration of what we are saying. Anna, who represents prophetic ministry, did not fail to be present on a great occasion in the temple. “And there was a prophetess, Anna, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, who was far advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, and herself a widow up to eighty-four years; who did not depart from the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers”. She came in in the same hour.
Ques Could it be said that the fact of anyone’s absence from the meetings does not hinder the blessings of those who are there?
JT It is true that every absentee necessarily weakens the position, but God is ready to serve those who are there. We read in 2 Chronicles 35 of Josiah’s passover. It was a great passover, but it was for “all Judah and Israel that were present”; those who were not present missed a great favour and necessarily weakened the position.
Ques Do you think we are apt to limit this matter of Thomas to the Lord’s day?
JT His absence is mentioned as covering all meetings of the saints. Where was he? He is said to have been called Didymus, that is, a twin. Is it a suggestion that he was with his twin brother, following the course of nature? Many of us are kept away from the meetings by natural affections and considerations. He was a true believer, but really below the level of christianity, for he said he would not believe unless he saw. The Lord says: “Blessed they who have not seen and have believed” (John 20:29). Anyone influenced by natural considerations is below the level of christianity, and depends on natural or seen things.
Ques Is it right to say that prophetic ministry immediately lays bare all the thoughts of the heart which keep us away from the meetings?
JT Yes, I am sure that is so, and other secrets of the heart, harmful to us, are manifested also.
We have no time now to go into the details of the service, so we may look at John 4. The passage read shows how prophetic ministry, corresponding with what we have read in Corinthians, leads to worship. When the woman asks for the living water, the Lord says: “Go, call thy husband, and come here”, and this leads to her exposure. She says: “I have not a husband. Jesus says to her, Thou hast well said, I have not a husband; for thou hast had five husbands, and he whom now thou hast is not thy husband; this thou hast spoken truly”. The subsequent facts show that this part of the conversation was prophetic as exposing her to herself. In speaking to the men she says: “Come, see a man who told me all things I had ever done”. This [p. 366] statement shows that she has judged herself as to her history morally, and hence she is morally qualified to raise the question of prophecy with the Lord. She says: “I see that thou art a prophet”. The Lord tells her later that He is the Christ, but she does not refer to that in speaking to the men; that is to say, she is morally entitled to speak of Christ in the gospel, because she has judged herself, and she refers to this disclosure of herself rather than to what He said to her as to Himself. She is, as it were, morally entitled to speak about worship. The Lord admits her qualification to speak about worship, for He immediately proceeds also to speak about it.
Ques Are these two thoughts brought together in Philippians 3:3: “For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God, and boast in Christ Jesus, and do not trust in flesh”?
JT That verse refers to public worship. It is a word for public worship; the apostle shows that the true worshippers have judged the flesh. The Lord has been helping the saints generally as to the service of God, and there can be no doubt that the revival of this subject of prophetic ministry is to the end that we should be true worshippers, that is, worshippers who judge themselves habitually, having no confidence in the flesh. They worship by the Spirit of God instead of by fleshly ordinances and ritual. The Lord here tells the woman that this is the kind of worshippers that the Father seeks. One can understand that if the Father is seeking something, He will endeavour to get it. He “seeks” — it is a present thing. At the end of the previous chapter, it is said that the Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand, and among these “all things” is that the Lord Jesus provides the worshippers. It is said in 1 Corinthians 8:6, “To us there is one God, the Father, of whom all things,
and we for him”; and then “and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him”; that is, He has brought us into existence, as we may say, spiritually. Hence this woman represents the work of Christ to the end that there should be worshippers.
Ques Do you think that worship is introduced by prophetic ministry?
JT Well, you can see how it affected this woman. It is not only the thought of worship that is brought in by prophetic ministry, but also the state necessary for worship. As in the fellowship, and having part publicly in the service of God, we need to judge ourselves habitually. Hence, “let a man examine himself, and so let him eat” (1 Corinthians 11:28).
Ques Do you not think that the old things which we have always done are a great hindrance: “Our fathers worshipped in this mountain”? We remain in that position.
JT This woman was governed by common religious sentiment, national sentiment. The Lord disabuses her mind of these errors. And that is the kind of ministry that is needed now, in that many of our brethren are held in national religious settings.
The passage in Samuel calls attention to prophetic ministry actually proceeding. It shows how this ministry intended to defeat Satan in his workings against the testimony. In verse 20 it says: “Then Saul sent messengers to take David; and they saw a company of prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as president over them; and the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied”; that is, the service was going on and the ministers of Saul saw it. If there is no prophetic ministry, no meeting for prophetic ministry in a town, of course it is not to be seen. Here “They saw a company of prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as president over them”. I hope the brethren will all notice this passage.
Ques What are we to understand today by “Samuel standing as president over them”?
JT That it is not a mere religious college; the service is going on under the direction of Christ.
Ques Samuel would be the type of Christ?
JT Quite so. What a wonderful sight for the enemy! And so as seeing it, they came under the power of it. Then Saul sent other messengers, and the same thing happened. Finally he came himself, and he also came under the power of the prophetic word. He and his emissaries came three times under the power of this wonderful ministry. The solemn thing is that Saul himself is thoroughly exposed; he is naked, which means that he was not genuinely affected inwardly. The closing question is: “Is Saul also among the prophets?”. It became a proverb, showing that all unreality is exposed.
Ques Could it be said that in Saul fallen to the earth naked we have an illustration of a local difficulty completely solved?
JT The evil is completely exposed.
Rem The word ‘naked’ in the Scriptures is a terrible word.
JT Paul speaks of not being found naked. “If indeed being also clothed we shall not be found naked” (2 Corinthians 5:3), which would mean that I am professedly clothed, but at the end I am exposed and shown to be unreal. The word of God causes all things to be naked in His sight.
Ques Have we not today the prophetic lamp illuminating the whole position? We can see all things as God sees them.
JT Quite so. This is the description of the word of God; it is “living and operative, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and penetrating to the division of soul and spirit, both of joints and marrow [p. 369] and a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart”, so that “all things are naked and laid bare to his eyes, with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:12,13).
Ques Could it not be said that if in any locality such a meeting is begun, God may by the Spirit use a brother who has never said anything hitherto?
JT We have illustrations of instrumentalities God uses: we read of an “ass speaking with man’s voice” forbidding “the folly of the prophet” (2 Peter 2:16). Then we have God speaking through Balaam, the false prophet. How much more is He ready to use one of His children in a small meeting!
The prophets are to speak one by one, not more than three. The profuseness of provision in the prophetic sense is seen in Peter’s address in Acts 2:17: “And it shall be in the last days, saith God, that I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your elders shall dream with dreams; yea, even upon my bondmen and upon my bondwomen in those days will I pour out of my Spirit, and they shall prophesy”. This passage shows how God had this prophetic ministry in mind in giving the Spirit.
Rem In this same book we have an evangelist who has four daughters who prophesy.
JT Other scriptures, of course, forbid sisters to prophesy publicly; but the fact that they are mentioned certainly ought to bring the thing home to everyone in the meeting. And the instruction in Corinthians, commanding that women should have their heads covered, certainly suggests the need of subjection in this respect. It is said that Philip’s daughters prophesied; they served in this manner, which shows the spiritual power that there was in those days.