A Prophet's Job Description

by Wayne Cordeiro on October 22, 2024

It's Tuesday, October 22, 2024. We rejoice with the 45 people who were baptized on Sunday at New Hope West! A heartfelt thank you to everyone who came to encourage and strengthen these new believers. Did you know that these two qualities—encouraging and strengthening—were also hallmarks of the prophets in the early church? Both the book of Acts and Paul’s writings in 1 Corinthians describe them in this way. Read on...

Today's Reading:

Job 11,12; Acts 15,16

Scripture

“Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers” (Acts 16:32)

Observation

Judas and Silas were sent with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch to correct a legalistic teaching. The Jerusalem Council, led by James, the half-brother of Jesus, sent a message to the Gentiles in Antioch, explaining that the teaching came from some who "went out without our authorization and disturbed you" (v. 24). Judas and Silas, "who themselves were prophets," were sent to rectify the inaccurate teaching that required new believers to follow the Old Testament Law. These brothers came to correct the false teaching, usher in grace, and offer encouragement.

Application

Paul the Apostle outlines this "job description" for prophets in 1 Corinthians 14:3: "The one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging, and comfort." While there may be times when prophets move in a Word of Knowledge or a Word of Wisdom, their primary role is to be recognized as those who are constantly building up believers with encouragement, strength, and comfort. They are not religious fortune tellers or predictors of the future. Rather, they are men and women entrusted with the divine task of strengthening and encouraging the believers—and we all know how much we need exactly that!

Prayer

Father, please raise up more prophets in the Body of Christ so that many of Your people will receive sound biblical teaching and be built up. Increase the number of New Testament prophets who are known for their God-given assignment to encourage and strengthen believers.

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About the Author

Wayne Cordeiro

Dr. Wayne Cordeiro is the founding pastor of the New Hope International Ministry beginning in 1984 in Hilo, Hawaii. In 1995, he relocated to Honolulu and pioneered New Hope Oahu. Within 10 years, NHO was listed among the ten most innovative churches in America. Outreach Magazine listed them as one of the “top five churches to learn from.” New Hope has seen over 110,000 first time decisions since its inception and has planted 153 churches on the West Coast and in Okinawa, Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, Myanmar and Australia.

Wayne is an author of over 14 books and speaks globally on ministry and leadership. He also designed the Life Journal and the SOAP method for daily devotions used by thousands of churches. He is also the general editor of the LifeConnect Study Bible. In 2017, he passed the leadership baton in Hawaii and relocated to Eugene, Oregon to be president of New Hope Christian College (formerly Eugene Bible College, his alma mater). New Hope Christian College highlights the development of both the message and the messenger. (For more information, go to Newhope.edu).

In 2020, he pioneered New Hope West which partners with New Hope Christian College. It has become a “lab church” for ministry and leadership development. Wayne’s life themes are emphasizing the Word of God, a daily devotion to Jesus, evangelism, church planting, leadership development, communication and redeeming the arts and technology for Christ.

Wayne and his wife, Anna have been married for over 49 years. They have three married children (Amy Hisaoka, Aaron Cordeiro, and Abigail Rivest) and nine grandchildren. His hobbies include music, reading, golf, pickleball, and riding his horse.