Expert: Elder Greg Madden - 1/17/2010

Question
I am wondering if God has made me a prophet.  When I've talked to
friends of my Baptist 'past', I am made to feel that I have gone
overboard.  I do believe that God's hand is definetly on me. I am
writing a book about all that God has done in my life, and only God will finish it for me.  Let me explain that I was 'Born-again'
at the age of 12.  But my salvation expirience was quite different from others who got saved that day or even my own children's salvation experience.  I literally felt my sin fall off
my shoulders as my knees became weak and I cried like I had never cried before, when I asked Jesus to come into my heart and life and forgive me of my sin.  A couple of years later I really connected the 700 Club when I saw it on TV,only to be mildly reprimended by my Pastor's wife that 'this was not of God.'
At the age of 20, in 1977, I had a light follow me in a thick fog
out to the house where my brother and husband were working on our new home.  I got the attention of them to come out and see this LIGHT that had followed me three miles, and was now hovering over our house. It was obsurd by the fog so I only saw what appeared to be a glow.  Once they came out of the basement where they were working it zoomed through the sky over our property back and forth
for forty five minutes.  I was neve afraid.  Years later I came to believe it was angels.  To varify this, in 2007, June 9th I woke up in the wee hours of the morning to see an angel tucking me in bed.  I had kicked all my blankets off me, because I was extremly hot.  My daughter who was sleeping in the same bed was cold, and when I saw all the blankets that I shoved off on her, I thought she wouldn't mind.  I won't go into detail here, other than to say that in the morning I woke up to see I was indeed tucked in and it looked like the maid had come in and made the bed,..with me in it!  Julie also noticed this. She said,"Mom, it looked like the maid had maid your bed."  I've dreamed dreams that came true.  Again I won't go into detail.  But one,...I dreamed that a lesbian laid in front of me naked.  She was about fifty something and out of shape, with blond hair that was rather
dry and unkept.  She wanted me to have sex with her. And I yelled out,..."I'm not a lesbian!  I'm not a lesbian!"  Then I felt I needed to say her name and even though I knew it wasn't my friend
who lived in Texas, I yelled out her name.  "I'm not a lesbian, Mary!"  The next day one of my daughters came to my house and told
me she had been out the night before and a woman attacked her in the bathroom of this bar.  As she discribed the situation I felt numb.  I said,..."Jenny,...was this woman fifty something?"  "Yes."  "Did she have blond hair?"  "Yes."  "Was she out of shape?" "Yes."  Then I really put myself out on a limb.
"And was her name, Mary?"  Her answer,..."Yeah. You know her?"  I said, "Jenny,...I dreamt this."  I've had a dream that Jesus stood
behind me as I waited in line for something. He said,.."You don't know who I am."  I turned around and looked up at a very tall man
who appeared to be about seven foot.  I said to him. "Oh I know you."  He said "Who am I?"  I answered,..."You are Jeff, and then I said a name that I remembered from a neighbor boy when I was growing up.  My brother then walked up to us and I wondered why
Delmar could't see him, and I felt as if 'this man knew my thoughts and heart.'  My brother walked away and again the man said,.."Who am I?"  And I said, "You are Jeff,..."  It was then he
placed himself directly in front of me and said,... "Who am I?"
And I said a name and he looked at me because I had gotten it wrong again,...and I knew it.  Suddenly I was in his arms and my
head against his chest. It was hard. Like a rock. I knew he had a lot of strength.  I felt peace and happiness. It was Jesus. I had
a 'fellowship' with him like I have everyday. It was wonderful at that moment, and then he said.  "You are going to tell everyone
who I am."  It wasn't a request, it was a demand. But in a loving
way.  It took me awhile because I knew that when I broke away that
sweet fellowship that I felt at that moment would be broke.  But I did pull away and I yelled out to everyone who was in ear shot.
"Hey everyone!  This is Jesus!"  Everyone turned to look at us and
then they took him away, just as I thought.  I looked down to the
ground and I was sad.  He had left me.  I heard the throngs of people who were taking him from me and then I knew he was waiting
and looking at me.  He wanted me to look back at him.  So I did.
Our eyes met and he smiled at me.  I had done as he asked me.  He smiled at me and then the people with great joy left with him.
My book is filled with the supernatural work of God. My question.
Do 'you' think I could be a Prophet?  I have had God tell me things. Like one night I knew someone was going to die. I called my kids and asked them to pray for their father because we were going through a divorce.  Then I walked into the breakroom where I worked and read an article in one of the magazines about a woman
who had an aneurysm on the brain. She was in a coma for three
days and came out of it.  When I got home I saw my husband walk
up to me and he told me that his brother that night was found
unconscious in his apartment. He had had an aneurysm and was in a coma.  He was in the coma for three days. But he died. So please
tell me. Should I get involved in an Assembly Church,...and do I have the Gift of Prophesy,...and has God made me a Prophet? Are there Prophets used of God today? My Baptist background would say no.  But I am no longer a Baptist.  Please advise me.  Thank you.
Gloria

Answer
Gloria,

Thank you for the opportunity to help, and please forgive my late reply.

Gloria, I would be unwise to tell you if you were, or were not a prophet. Only God Himself knows such things. The same thing concerning the gift of prophesy. It is true that the gift of prophesy (listed in 1Cor 12) and the ministry office of a prophet (Eph 4:11) are still for the edification of the church today. But for me to pass judgment as say that you are, or are not a prophet, is not for me to say.

There are however, ways to know if someone is, or is not a prophet. When a person claims to be speaking for God, the important thing is to compare what is said by them with what the Bible says. If God were to speak through a person, it would be in 100% complete agreement with what God has already said in the Bible. God does not contradict Himself (1 John 4:1). 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 declares, “Do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good.” So, whether is it a “word from the Lord” or a supposed prophecy, our response should be the same. Compare what is said to what the Word of God says. If it contradicts the Bible, throw it out. If it agrees with the Bible, pray for wisdom and discernment as to how to apply the message.

Gloria, there is nowhere in the Scriptures that teach that the gifts of the Spirit, or the fivefold ministry gifts have ceased. The first half of the twentieth century saw the emergence of many of today’s large Pentecostal denominations, with the associated manifestation of various gifts of the Holy Spirit. In the second half of the twentieth century, the Charismatic Movement led millions more Christians in non-Pentecostal denominations to embrace the present-day validity of these spiritual gifts. There is not one place in Scripture that says that the gifts of the Spirit are not for today. Furthermore, we know that the Holy Spirit was sent to be a comforter and convictor of Christians after Christ's ascension--that includes us! We are the believers to whom the Holy Spirit was sent to minister. 1 Corinthians 12:7-11

As to getting involved in an "Assembly Church", my suggestion is that you pray and ask the Lord to guide you by His Spirit to the right church. It matters not what the name or label is on the church door, it is what is being taught/preached behind the pulpit that matters. I would defiantly suggest that you seek a Bible preaching, Spirit filled local body of Believers.

I have been a member of an independent, Pentecostal church for twenty five years and an Elder there for over twelve years. And though no church is perfect (at least on this side of heaven) I believe (generally speaking) most Pentecostal churches are Biblically sound, and Spirit lead. Here are a few things that I think set them apart...

1. Symphonic prayer. This is when all the people in the church pray out loud at the same time. Just as a symphony has differing instruments that play a harmonic melody at the same time, this is the way Pentecostals will pray out loud, together, yet in harmony. Of course, there are many times that prayer is lead while the church prays silently.

2. Lively praise and worship service. You may see people raising their hands (a sign of submission to Gods will), lifting their voice in praise, leaping (like someone who has received a great gift would leap for joy), dancing (an outward expression of the happiness they feel inside) and hand clapping, and yes laughing. To name just a few. It is usually (but not limited to) this time that people in the service will speak in other tongues. This is what the Bible teaches us as a "prayer language" that the Lord gives to all who ask Him. I am also placing a link in the source that will help explain this.

http://www.forministry.com/USOKPENTEMMM1/TheBaptismoftheHolyGhost.dsp

Though these expressions of praise, worship, and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit may seem different to those who are unfamiliar with them, or to those (like myself in the past) who were taught that these things passed away at the end of the first century, that does not mean that they are wrong. To those who are unlearned the simplest things may seem strange. But to those who are informed they are very natural. Those it is with the operation of the Holy Spirit.

3. Dynamic (Spirit anointed), revelatory (a revealing Truth from God's Word) preaching. Preaching is at the very heart of a Pentecostal service. The subject will vary (Pentecostal preachers rely upon the Holy Spirit to give them a message for the church from God's Holy Word), but it will be relevant.

4. Operation of the gifts of the Spirit. The Bible teaches us in 1Cor.12,13,& 14 that there are nine supernatural gifts that are to operate within the church. These will not operate in every service, but neither is it unusual. The most common of these gifts is tongues and interpretation of tongues. This is when an individual, inspired by the Holy Spirit (and at an appropriate time) will speak a message in tongues (this is not the operation of the prayer language received by Believers with the infilling of the Holy Spirit, and is operated by them in prayer, praise, and worship [this can take place publicly or privately]) Then this message in tongues will be interpreted by another believer (or in some cases the same person). Both the tongues, and the interpretation gifts are Spirit lead and inspired.

5. A call from the pastor for a response to the message. This is called an "alter call". This is when the pastor invites those to who feel the message preached was to them to respond. The response may be an invitation to the front where he or other Christians can help pray with you. Or he may ask for another type of response. In any case, this is also an important time in the service.

If you have any further questions that I can help with, please feel free to contact me.

Elder Greg Madden