prophecy and illumination

Lets look at Prophecy, in contrast to ordinary means, of revelation.
1) It can be used in cases in which ordinary means are not readily applicable.
2) It is can be used by God tp highlight his providence and care.
3)It can also build together the church by providing different means through one person of the church ministering to the other.

Lets look at illumination of scripture.
1) Ordinary means are made applicable.
2) Gods providence can still be seen but to a lesser degree.
3) It can build the church together in supporting every other role in the church.

The illumination of scripture works out very similiar to prophecy. We could almost hold prophecy as the illumination of truth by means apart from scripture. Yet, prophecy does not exhalt the Word if it is not found in the prophecy. I hold that God's grace normally follows that which postions God's Word above everything else. Thus prophecy will be facillitated by the ordinary means of the Bible when it is able to be. This is why most prophetic speakers bring a verse to better express God's truth, with God's own perfect words. The Bible is the primary means He ordained for revelation. Prophecy aught to be facilitated by scripture, more times than not. It is the same spirit who gave us the Bible and opens it up to us. Prophecy when informed by the word is unique because it highlights both sovereign care and the Word. There have been some in the past that have errorneously linked prophecy and illumination of the Word. See Matthew Henry on Prophecy for such. Understandable but it was never meant to be.

Let's carry this idea of illumination and prophecy further. People misinterpret the Bible all the time. Does this mean that the Bible is flawed? By the same token is Prophecy flawed? Now it appears that some wish to apply a stricter standard to one and disregard the Holy Spirit aspect of the other. This pure humanism is unacceptable. One will question if it is from God does that it makes prophecy infallible. Or equal to the Bible? No, it is the wrong question to ask since both require interpretations and illumination of the scripture. Futhermore, a normal interpretation of scripture in a vain imagination is as perverted. Just as perverted as a prophectic message in a vain imagination. One would scarely call the interpretation of scripture infallible.

Having shown the problems with intermediates between truth and mere men. God does step in to help in both scripture and prophecy. He has instituted internal checks to ensure their right transmission. First, the literal reading of the Bible. Second, the spirit himself. Third, the pastor of the church. This does not place prophectic truth beside scripture for scripture is a check. It is even a check on itself. Any truth, scriptural or prophectic, if it is illuminated in one's mind from God, must by necessity be found in a literal verse of scripture. It is suffiecent.

The design of prophecy outside of felt bible verses and images that convey those verses is likely to be reserved for only a very few specific instances. Yet, the truths are the very same old and eternal truths of God. Furthermore, prophecy occationally brings a target for its message. The prophectic message can benefit all but is really meant for a few. Just like certain scriptures speaking to different men. It is able to cut down to the heart between bones and marrow. It is living and active like the bible only because of the Holy Spirit. Now providing care belongs to job of the pastor. If prophecy is meant to be congregation, he should be involved. Hence, his involvement in determining if the prophetic message is appropriate for the time. I have yet to decide if prophecy has a place congregationally or only in small groups. My experience is prophecy is not always congregational, The puritan in my almost wants to push it out of the sunday service. Yet, in the same breath I would not wish to squelch the Spirit.

In conclusion, scriptures alone cannot be brought to bear on men when God has for some reason declared for the ordinary means of scripture to be unavailible. Prophecy fills the void. For this reason, Prophecy highlights God's sovereignty and care in a way that it cannot be missed. His care is not because of the circumstance but rather despite them. Extraordinary gifts do nothing more than disclose the length of God's arm when compared to that which is ordinary. I have excercised prophectic gift privately before going to Cornerstone. I have never done it at Cornerstone. I am just not very open about it. Nor have I really had anything that I felt I needed to say in a microphone.