Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
In the Old Testament, the people didn't have the Holy Spirit. Only certain people had the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit does the following:
- guides you into all truth
- teaches you all things
- reminds you of that which Jesus has said
- shows you things to come
Jn. 14:26 & Jn. 16:13
But after Jesus came, all who were of God were sealed by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit came to dwell inside the believers. The way to God was made directly to God through Jesus by HIS Spirit.
How are prophets used in the New Testament church?
Consider John the Baptist: Here are examples of the work of John the Baptist.
And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; 4As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; 6And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. 7Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 9And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 10And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? 11He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. 12Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? 13And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. 14And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages. Lk. 3
For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife. 4For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. Mt. 14
We see that John the Baptist came speaking to people to show them how to go in the way of God ... how to make corrections. He spoke against adultery. He urged the people of God to repent from ungodly works. He brought godly correction.
Agabus is another example of a New Testament prophet. Here are examples of the way God used Agabus in the New Testament church.
And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. 28And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. 29Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: 30Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. Acts 11
And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. 11And 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. 12And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. 14And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done. Acts 21
Prophets help people to get out of traps and they help people stay out of traps by warning them as God wills.
There is no example in New Testament of anyone coming to a prophet to see what God's will was in any matter. Jesus made the way for all who belong to God to go directly to God without going through another person. However, God might choose to speak a specific instruction to an individual through a prophet.
Prophets do exist today in the New Testament church ... We see examples of their work in the scriptures. Also we see in Eph. 4 that after Jesus arose (after the crucifixion), Jesus gave to the New Testament church the following ministry gifts ... And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.