As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. James 5:10
How valuable is the Old Testament (OT) in our Christian walk and life? Has the OT lost it’s worth when it comes to this modern age? James the leader of The Way in Jerusalem when the ekklesia was just beginning wrote this book to help establish the path of the new fledgling movement. Tradition suggests that the book of James was written around 45 AD by the half-brother of Jesus making it one of the earliest books of the New Testament (NT). Which prophets was James most likely alluding to? I would think that it had to do with those with that ‘calling’ of God, which obviously included the OT prophets. It is interesting that there were NT prophets as well that were exposed to the same type of persecution and trials as their predecessors from the OT.
Here James is reminding the followers of Christ in The Way to be ready to walk the path as the prophets did – not only being ready to suffer and face persecution with all patience but also to speak the Words of God through prophecy.
Paul writes “Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.” 1 Corinthians 14:1
If anyone receives from God a ‘call’ to walk in the ‘path of a prophet’ it is greatly beneficial for that individual to study the books and stories of the prophets in the OT. Out of all the ‘gifts’ to the ekklesia (Ephesians 4:11) the calling and acceptance of the role of a ‘prophet’ in the institutional Church in America has faced the most rejection and persecution, just like their OT compatriots. Most OT prophets HAD to learn to walk the path of extreme obedience to the Lord, and most often while the people hated them and despised them. The costs of the calling were / are high. Yet here James is calling ALL the followers of Christ to heed the example of the prophet’s faithfulness and steadiness.
Do you know someone with this type of calling of God … personally? Unfortunately the institutional Church has done great damage to this calling. There are man-devised doctrines aimed specifically to erase this calling and gifting from within the American Church and it’s devised institutions. Yet… here James lifts up this calling of God.
On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied. While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Acts 21:8-10
Here Luke is recounting the events he encountered with Paul and company as they all headed to Jerusalem, and the ‘prophets’ were speaking to Paul of things that were about to happen to him. Certainly there were those who were part of The Way who were NT ‘prophets’. Did you catch the reference to Philip’s four daughters? God is no respecter of persons and pours His Spirit out on those who ask for Him. (Luke 11:13)
Have you studied the OT and NT prophets? Has the Holy Spirit spoken to you about the things and ways He wants you to walk?
Quench not the Spirit.
Despise not prophesyings.
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21