Prophecy and me

I follow Bunyan and Spurgeon on the existences of the spiritual gifts and their forms. I also believe they can affect believers in a similar way as reading scripture does. Illumination of doctrines/beliefs/verses at times but it is apart from reading scripture and through varied means. The Holy Ghost does not move in the reading of the word alone although it is the sword that it still wields effectually in the process.

This means that the Grace of illumination is still free and not just in the act of reading. Sometimes, it is correction that comes in the form apart from the natural means of reading. It also can be complimentary and sustaining to people who have woefully neglected the means of scripture. Yet, this is not where most prophecies occur. They are for the church since the purpose is to build the church not just sustain it. This may seem strange. If the means of communication are free then I also consider that visions and dreams as possible and probable. God can illuminate in reading. Can he respond out of it too? Yes, god can illuminate in and by prayer as well. He can finally respond out of it, although it is never normal to do so to anyone but a christian. The prophetic words, not necessarily a prophecy per say, are true when according to scripture. I shall return to the later.

If one wishes to call them subordinate to scripture it is true, but to say they have equal weight if actually from God is also true. Yet, to say that they are new is most certainly untrue.

First some ground observations: Prophecy errors in people who have no light, ones that are not elect. People characterized by false prophets fit this category. They primarily break the established grounds of acceptible prophecy set in scripture and its uses to build the church.

All prophecy has an interpretation or people aught not speak.
All prophets should also test themselves before they ever speak.
All pastors should control of prophecy and its content in the church.
People must prophesy in proportion to faith.
The spirit of prophecy must also confirm that Jesus has come in the flesh and is
the christ.
Prophecy also does not cause one to take up a stance based on the vision. But only
strengthens or gives knowledge to a pre-existing position or intuition being
considered before hand.
Prophecy is formed by the will but apart from it.

Finally the point of prophecy is primarily turning over old timeless truths and
making them new. The purpose is often the same as illumination in scripture but more particular in applying its means.

Next, it does not:
It does not cause people to faint over into a seizure as far as I know.
It does not cause physical incapacitation, time perception is strange because they seem to occur in what seem like half-moments. (The sense is that they are mentally captivating to the consciousness and many times short-lived or parsed into many related short-live moments. They need not be exclusive to any sensory functions.)
It does not appear chaotic since prophets can be very orderly when practiced aright.
It is not channelling either where one speaks a prophecy in a strange voice.
It does not cause one does not speak uncontrollably.
It does not replace scripture, rather it spoken is according to scripture. God doesn't change.
It does not make people take aberrant stances or positions opposed to scripture, current pastoral thought, or in commiting sins.
It is not the general ability of telling the future.

These all describe demon possession.

Next, my experience is that interpretation is almost always with the prophecy, if it is not then it is accessible by prayer. There is no special formula for the gifts of knowledge and wisdom from above. More often it is illuminated in parallel to a particular Bible verse simultaneously. The Interpretation can then take the form of an expounded Bible verse easily.

Sometimes, it is in reverse where it just serves to further illumination upon reading a similarity in the Word. Yet 90% of everyone who speaks at a prophetic mic has a particular Bible verse to read and explain. Bible literacy is useful in prophecy because it clearly displays the truth and interpretation in non-subjective words. Yet, it is not the explaining that makes then a prophet but rather the necessity of that topic brought to the church's attention. It is the word of knowledge or wisdom or even a vision/dream that communicates the topic. Prophecy in its particular use is for building the church up. It certainly does that in this description. Finally, the last 10% are often addressing individuals with needs. These needs almost always exists regardless of the prophecy given. Yet some are so specific and spectacular they can't be ignored. I have to date found nothing erring doctrinally at the prophetic mic at my church. I have listened closely for heresy.

Myself and prophecy:
I have never spoken in a prophetic mic. But I have had prophetic moments (half-moments, images and dreams) in the past, I tend to doubt them as often as I can but to no avail. They are inescapible and functionally quite strange. Of these, only two have applied to others. These moments were set against my doubts as a weak christian. Yet, they weren't as pivotal as other acts of providence. On one hand, I could not subjectively dismiss God. On the other rationalism sought to destroy faith completely. I was torn apart at the seams, not very able to call out to God for help. How can one call on whom they did not rationally believe but felt and knew. Yet, I did believe actually believe. My rationalism tried to crushed what I believed. Not quite postmodernism, but modernized thought on everything ranging from evolution to existence itself. I would never wish to forced them on anyone.

The prophetic gifts did not arise because I am more faithful or holy but rather they exemplified my lack of faith and holiness. They ultimately fostered perseverance from God alone. I am very practical in my rationalism and skeptical of mysticism. Prophecy is real as real as it gets. I have tried to discount it EVERY step of the way. I cannot. I would make myself out to be a liar. I could not call myself a christian for the 'base deception' of prophecy made me who I am today. It is not about the theology on the gifts. It is about who I am as a christian. They were an anchor to my faith for a time. They showed me that Christ and God were alive and caring for me in my doubts. Oh, how He stayed by my side when I am prone to wander. He brought me back into the fold time and time and time and time and time again. He seared the truth of this into my heart. Without prophecy existing, this all meant nothing. God would have meant nothing. It is not a delusion for there was no evil intent or stance that was not vindicated outside of prophecy.

Now, the spiritual gifts in no way make the christian. The fruits of the spirit are far more important to a believer. Being bound subjectively into knowing God does not need such supernatural means. I am sure this all perserverance could have been done apart from any prophetic or extraordinary gifting. Some of it was via the right verse at the right time. This was also miraculous when I opened my bible to what happened to be the right verse, illuminated in my heart. In my case, these things only make God more glorified in his actions because he was using means that have no trace but from himself.

Reformed theology is a natural outlet because it explains the power of God. It provides reason for God in perseverance. (OSAS makes no sense! only PotS!) It also has a rationalistic strain that takes what the Bible says and makes God actually mean it. It is one that seeks to crush humanism and pride in self. There is also many atheistic claims that seek to pit calvinistic and universalistic ideas against christians errorneously. Faith is unequivocal. It gives God the glory alone and explains many relics of truthes within Protestant churches from the Bible.

What is it to be born again? What is it to have the Gospel received with power? (Is it not Calvinistic conversion?) How are we saved if we are enemies of God with no hope? (are we still enemies if we exercise a choice that REQUIRES a pre-existing faith in the basis of that choice.) Having been chosen, do we choose and thus become chosen or are we chosen BEFORE this. Having been elected, how do we elect ourselves. Having been established, how do we establish ourselves. You can see the quandary that these biblical phrases bring up. We choose because we are chosen. We love God because he has loved us. It is reciprical entirely in my opinion. This makes the Bible mean what it says without altering word meaning to unsustainable positions.

I am at first an "experiential calvinist". I am doctrinally reformed after that. I can run three times around an Arminian before they know it. Reformed theology has made my mind succumb to faith. It has taken thoughts captive in faith. Outside of the previous subjectivism in which I could not deny or approve. It was waves upon the sea. I was bound fast by the power of God, while trying to run the other way. The gifting and calling of God is irrevocable. C.S Lewis, Mere Christianity, was one of the first helpful reads of mine in this earlier time. Yet, Reformed theology completely established my desire and praise for God and his sovereignty.

This was mainly outside and before my current church. Prophetic momements are quite rare. They have also been useful in explaining how prophetic imagery works in the Bible too. The issue of prophecy is not explaining but rather speaks to the necessity of THAT verse or topic being expounded. God does communicate with man. Cessionists have issues with discussing how this communication works. Should not people consult their God. And would he not answer them? In teaching, in prayer, in the law, in reading, in the spirit, and even in prophecies. If one is moved something else, We need not consider this case for long. It is known by its fruits, primarily lies and deception.