It is true that many have bastardised the office of the prophet by prophelying instead of prophesying hence, many are sceptical of it but that's not withstanding, God is still speaking to His prophets. Prophets are the instruments through which God desires to guide His people, for they are the eyes of the Body of Christ.

Many have been taught that, since people living during the New Testament era are recipients of the Holy Spirit, they do not need to rely on prophets for divine guidance but can now simply go to God directly for guidance for themselves. Notwithstanding, if being a recipient of the Holy Spirit makes one exempt from the need for guidance through the ministry of the prophet, how, then, does one explain the life of Apostle Paul who died an untimely death because he ignored prophetic warning from a prophet?

Apostle Paul present an excellent case to those who believe we are in the new testament and so therefore, no need for prophetic counselling etc etc etc Apostle, Paul Of course, was a Spirit-filled, Spirit-anointed Christian. Yet when planning to visit the city of Jerusalem for the purpose of preaching the Gospel there, Paul himself said, "And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there" (Acts 20:22).

Notice Paul admitted that, although a Spirit-filled Christian, God did not reveal to him, by the Spirit of God, what would happen to him after he arrived in Jerusalem. Some weeks later, however, while in the city of Tyre, a group of prophets turned, and "said to Paul, through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem" (Acts 21:4).

And a couple of weeks after that, "there came down from Judea a certain prophet, named Agabus. And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles" (Acts 21:10,11).

What Paul could not discern from the Spirit of God concerning his journey to the city of Jerusalem, he had to be told by a number of prophets. That is because prophets and prophetesses are the eyes of the Body of Christ.

Nevertheless, for some strange reason, Paul disregarded the guidance of these prophets, failing to keep in mind that prophets are the eyes of the Body of Christ, and he went up to Jerusalem anyway. As a consequence, Paul set in motion a series of unfortunate events which culminated in his beheading to death by edict of the emperor, Nero Augustus, 5 years later.

Shortly before his death, Paul lamented about his error of discounting guidance through the prophets of the Lord. And not wanting others to make the same mistake as he, Paul wrote in an epistle to" Despise not prophesyings " (1 Thess. 5:20). Indeed, it was precisely because Paul refused to view his situation through the eyes of the prophet, his life ended prematurely.

Horrible outcomes await all those who take for granted the ministry of the prophet, who refuse to view life through the eyes of the prophet. But blessings untold await those who honor the office of the prophet, understanding its God-intended purpose in the Earth, which is to guide God's people into the perfect will of God for their lives.

May the souls of those who lost their life in Otedola bridge and other disasters rest in perfect peace. Also, may we not make the same mistake that Paul made.

Selah!

Paul didn't 'ignore' Agabus's prophecy. He just didn't see the prophecy as enough to deter him. HE WAS READY FOR THE OUTCOME.

ObaKlaz:
Paul didn't 'ignore' Agabus's prophecy. He just didn't see the prophecy as enough to deter him. HE WAS READY FOR THE OUTCOME.

The bottom line is he was warned by God through His prophets not to set his foot in Jerusalem. Let me use your word ...because God saw that he was "ready for the outcome" He sent Prophet AGABUS to tell him that which shall befall him for not hearken to his warning.

In Acts 21:4 “After looking up the disciples, we stayed there (Tyre) seven days; and they kept telling Paul through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem.”

This second prophecy came because of his disobedience
"there came down from Judea a certain prophet, named Agabus. And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles" (Acts 21:10,11)

Uncle Paul is not even moved by any yeye prophesy...

In uncle Paul's letter to the Philippians 1:21 says, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Most people focus on the second part of the verse, “to die is gain,” and contemplate the joys of heaven. But we should not overlook what comes before. The importance of the phrase “to live is Christ” cannot be overstated. In all honesty, this phrase should be central to every Christian’s life.

In this statement, uncle Paul is saying that everything he has tried to be, everything he is, and everything he looked forward to being pointed to Christ. From the time of Paul’s conversion until his martyrdom, every move he made was aimed at advancing the knowledge, gospel, and church of Christ. Paul’s singular aim was to bring glory to Jesus.

“To live is Christ” means that we proclaim the gospel of Christ. Uncle Paul preached in synagogues; he preached at riversides; he preached as a prisoner; he preached as an apostle; he preached as a tentmaker. His message was constant: “Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). He brought the message of Christ’s sacrifice to kings, soldiers, statesmen, priests, and philosophers, Jews and Gentiles, men and women. He would preach to literally anyone who would listen.

“To live is Christ” means that we imitate the example of Christ. Everything that Jesus did and said, that’s what Paul wanted to do and say. The church benefitted from his godly example: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). What would Jesus do? That’s what we want to do.

Summary: If you are ready to do the will of God by all means, no prophecy ( good or evil) can stop/scare you because you have become fearless.

martolux:
Uncle Paul is not even moved by any yeye prophesy...

In uncle Paul's letter to the Philippians 1:21 says, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Most people focus on the second part of the verse, “to die is gain,” and contemplate the joys of heaven. But we should not overlook what comes before. The importance of the phrase “to live is Christ” cannot be overstated. In all honesty, this phrase should be central to every Christian’s life.

In this statement, uncle Paul is saying that everything he has tried to be, everything he is, and everything he looked forward to being pointed to Christ. From the time of Paul’s conversion until his martyrdom, every move he made was aimed at advancing the knowledge, gospel, and church of Christ. Paul’s singular aim was to bring glory to Jesus.

“To live is Christ” means that we proclaim the gospel of Christ. Uncle Paul preached in synagogues; he preached at riversides; he preached as a prisoner; he preached as an apostle; he preached as a tentmaker. His message was constant: “Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). He brought the message of Christ’s sacrifice to kings, soldiers, statesmen, priests, and philosophers, Jews and Gentiles, men and women. He would preach to literally anyone who would listen.

“To live is Christ” means that we imitate the example of Christ. Everything that Jesus did and said, that’s what Paul wanted to do and say. The church benefitted from his godly example: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). What would Jesus do? That’s what we want to do.

Summary: If you are ready to do the will of God by all means, no prophecy ( good or evil) can stop/scare you because you have become fearless.

Is prophecy to scare or to guide ?

To guide but d bible should be the best guide for every christian because nowadays the world is now full of prophets of doom....First Thessalonians 5:20-21 says this: “Do not despise prophesying.” Unfortunately, many of us, having seen some of the excesses and some of the craziness that has gone on in the name of a so-called prophet, despise prophesying. Don’t despise prophesying, “but test everything, holding fast to the good.” I like that because, to me, one of the things Paul seems to be saying is, “Don’t get too worried about the bad.”

Obviously we reject the bad, but maybe the issue here is not necessarily pointing out everything that’s wrong in a prophecy but just letting some of that pass us by and honing in on and holding fast to the good. It is not the prophet who we test; rather, it is the prophetic words. A powerful word can sometimes come from a new Christian. Equally, however, no word is true simply because it came from someone who has a good track record of hearing from God.

We are not told to test the Bible. The Bible, we know, is true. But we have to test prophetic words by what the Bible says.

enilove:


Is prophecy to scare or to guide ?

enilove:


Is prophecy to scare or to guide ?

Good question

PROPHETmichael:


The bottom line is he was warned by God through His prophets not to set his foot in Jerusalem. Let me use your word ...because God saw that he was "ready for the outcome" He sent Prophet AGABUS to tell him that which shall befall him for not hearken to his warning.

In Acts 21:4 “After looking up the disciples, we stayed there (Tyre) seven days; and they kept telling Paul through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem.”

This second prophecy came because of his disobedience
"there came down from Judea a certain prophet, named Agabus. And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles" (Acts 21:10,11)

If only you know how Paul was glorified in death and fulfilled His purpose.
All the apostles suffered with Christ, all of them except John the Beloved suffered grave deaths.
They were chosen to suffer with Christ as all Christians are meant to.
The purpose of our existence is to attain Eternal Life on earth and continue the works of God by doing His will.
If He wills our death is martyrdom, so be it. If He wills we die at an old ripe age so be it.

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
Revelations 12:11

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ
Philippians 3:8