RAISING UP A SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY OF PROPHETS

NIHOP SCHOOL OF PROPHETSLESSON 1

PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY:- TO SEE THE SOLID BIBLICAL EVIDENCE

FOR THE USE OF AND NEED FOR PROPHETS THROUGHOUT HISTORY, PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE AND WHY THE NEGROS ISLAND HOUSE OF PRAYER IS PUTTING UP A SCHOOL OF PROPHETS

- THAT NIHOP MAY BECOME A COMMUNITY OF PROPHETS

INTRODUCTION: HOW GOD RAISED UP PROPHETS IN BIBLICAL HISTORY

1.ABRAHAM

GEN. 20:7 “NOW THEREFORE RESTORE THE MAN HIS WIFE; FOR HE IS A PROPHET, AND HE SHALL PRAY FOR THEE, AND THOU SHALT LIVE: AND IF THOU RESTORE HER NOT, KNOW THOU THAT THOU SHALT SURELY DIE, THOU, AND ALL THAT ARE THINE.” (REMEMBER, SODOM AND GOMORRAH… GEN. 18:17 “SHALL I HIDE FROM ABRAHAM WHAT I AM ABOUT TO DO?...PSALM 105:15 … “DO NOT TOUCH MY ANOINTED ONES, DO MY PROPHETS NO HARM.”)

2. MOSES AND AARONEXODUS 7:1 AND THE LORD SAID UNTO MOSES, SEE, I HAVE MADE THEE A GOD TO PHARAOH: AND AARON THY BROTHER SHALL BE THY PROPHET.

THE ULTIMATE INTIMACY OF A PROPHET

DEUT. 34:10 AND THERE HAS NOT ARISEN A PROPHET SINCE IN ISRAEL LIKE MOSES, WHOM THE LORD KNEW FACE TO FACE…

ANALYSIS OF THIS EARLY PROPHETIC CASES:

BOTH ABRAHAM AND MOSES WERE CALLED CONCERNING A NATION – THE NATION OF ISRAEL; ABRAHAM TO ESTABLISH A NATION, MOSES TO SAVE A NATIONPOINT: THE CALLING OF THE PROPHET IS FOR THE NATION

SECOND:

BOTH ABRAHAM AND MOSES RECEIVED A DEFINITE CALL FROM GOD (HEARD FROM GOD), WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO DECLARE AND PRONOUNCE THAT CALL

THIS CALL WAS:1. LIFE-CHANGING (YOUR LIFE IS NOT YOURS ANYMORE!!!)

A. ABRAHAM HAD TO LEAVE URB. MOSES HAD TO LEAVE THE

WILDERNESS AND GO BACK TO EGYPT

THIS CALL

2. HAD TO BE NURTURED, FOUGHT FOR AND DEFENDED

- ABRAHAM STRUGGLED AGAINST “TIME” (FULFILMENT)

- MOSES STOOD AGAINST A KINGDOM IN OPEN CONFRONTATION

THIS CALL:

3. HAD TO BE ENFORCED, APPLIED, IMPLEMENTED

- ABRAHAM HELD ON TO THIS WHEN HE LOOKED FOR A WIFE FOR HIS ONLY SON ISAAC

-MOSES HAD TO FIGHT AGAINST ALL ODDS

IN THE TIME OF JOSHUAJOSHUA WAS THE PROPHETIC LEADER“NOW AFTER THE DEATH OF MOSES THE SERVANT OF THE LORD IT CAME TO PASS, THAT THE LORD SPAKE UNTO JOSHUA THE SON OF NUN, MOSES' MINISTER, SAYING, MOSES MY SERVANT IS DEAD; NOW THEREFORE ARISE, GO OVER THIS JORDAN, THOU, AND ALL THIS PEOPLE, UNTO THE LAND WHICH I DO GIVE TO THEM, EVEN TO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL.” “AS I WAS WITH MOSES, SO I WILL BE WITH THEE: I WILL NOT FAIL THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE.” JOSHUA 1:1, 2, 5

AFTER JOSHUA“SINCE THE DAY THAT YOUR FATHERS CAME FORTH OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT UNTO THIS DAY I HAVE EVEN SENT UNTO YOU ALL MY SERVANTS THE PROPHETS, DAILY RISING UP EARLY AND SENDING THEM: YET THEY HEARKENED NOT UNTO ME, NOR INCLINED THEIR EAR, BUT HARDENED THEIR NECK: THEY DID WORSE THAN THEIR FATHERS.” JER. 7:25, 26.

IN THE BOOK OF JUDGES:“AND DEBORAH, A PROPHETESS, THE WIFE OF LAPIDOTH, SHE JUDGED ISRAEL AT THAT TIME. AND SHE DWELT UNDER THE PALM TREE OF DEBORAH BETWEEN RAMAH AND BETHEL IN MOUNT EPHRAIM: AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL CAME UP TO HER FOR JUDGMENT.” JUDGES 4:1-5.

SO PROPHETS WERE RAISED:1. IN THE PATRIARCHAL PERIOD – (ABRAHAM, ISAAC, JACOB)

- THE PROPHET OPERATED IN FAMILIES AND CLANS, POINTING TO THE NATION2. IN THE NATION-FORMATION PERIOD – MOSES AND AARON3. IN THE SETTLEMENT PERIOD (JOSHUA-JUDGES)

PROPHETS WERE ALWAYS RAISED UP

THE LORD FORMALIZES OR ESTABLISHES THE OFFICE OF

THE PROPHETNUMBERS12:6 (note: Numbers is the book on the ORGANIZATION OF ISRAEL AS A COMMUNITY)

• AND HE SAID, HEAR NOW MY WORDS: IF THERE BE A PROPHET AMONG YOU, I THE LORD WILL MAKE MYSELF KNOWN UNTO HIM IN A VISION, AND WILL SPEAK UNTO HIM IN A DREAM.

WHEN DID THE LORD DIRECT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE

SCHOOL OF PROPHETS?

IN THE MONARCHIAL PERIOD (KINGS), WHEN ISRAEL BEGAN TO ASK FOR A HUMAN KING…

THE STORY…• 1 SAMUEL 12 • SAMUEL SAID TO ALL ISRAEL, “I HAVE LISTENED TO

EVERYTHING YOU SAID TO ME AND HAVE SET A KING OVER YOU. 2 NOW YOU HAVE A KING AS YOUR LEADER. AS FOR ME, I AM OLD AND GRAY, AND MY SONS ARE HERE WITH YOU. I HAVE BEEN YOUR LEADER FROM MY YOUTH UNTIL THIS DAY. 3 HERE I STAND. TESTIFY AGAINST ME IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD AND HIS ANOINTED. WHOSE OX HAVE I TAKEN? WHOSE DONKEY HAVE I TAKEN? WHOM HAVE I CHEATED? WHOM HAVE I OPPRESSED? FROM WHOSE HAND HAVE I ACCEPTED A BRIBE TO MAKE ME SHUT MY EYES? IF I HAVE DONE ANY OF THESE THINGS, I WILL MAKE IT RIGHT.”

1 SAMUEL 12• 16 “NOW THEN, STAND STILL AND SEE THIS GREAT THING

THE LORD IS ABOUT TO DO BEFORE YOUR EYES! 17 IS IT NOT WHEAT HARVEST NOW? I WILL CALL ON THE LORD TO SEND THUNDER AND RAIN. AND YOU WILL REALIZE WHAT AN EVIL THING YOU DID IN THE EYES OF THE LORD WHEN YOU ASKED FOR A KING.”

• 18 THEN SAMUEL CALLED ON THE LORD, AND THAT SAME DAY THE LORD SENT THUNDER AND RAIN. SO ALL THE PEOPLE STOOD IN AWE OF THE LORD AND OF SAMUEL.

• 19 THE PEOPLE ALL SAID TO SAMUEL, “PRAY TO THE LORD YOUR GOD FOR YOUR SERVANTS SO THAT WE WILL NOT DIE, FOR WE HAVE ADDED TO ALL OUR OTHER SINS THE EVIL OF ASKING FOR A KING.”

I SAMUEL 12• 20 “DO NOT BE AFRAID,” SAMUEL REPLIED. “YOU HAVE DONE ALL

THIS EVIL; YET DO NOT TURN AWAY FROM THE LORD, BUT SERVE THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART. 21 DO NOT TURN AWAY AFTER USELESS IDOLS. THEY CAN DO YOU NO GOOD, NOR CAN THEY RESCUE YOU, BECAUSE THEY ARE USELESS. 22 FOR THE SAKE OF HIS GREAT NAME THE LORD WILL NOT REJECT HIS PEOPLE, BECAUSE THE LORD WAS PLEASED TO MAKE YOU HIS OWN. 23 AS FOR ME, FAR BE IT FROM ME THAT I SHOULD SIN AGAINST THE LORD BY FAILING TO PRAY FOR YOU. AND I WILL TEACH YOU THE WAY THAT IS GOOD AND RIGHT. 24 BUT BE SURE TO FEAR THE LORD AND SERVE HIM FAITHFULLY WITH ALL YOUR HEART; CONSIDER WHAT GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE FOR YOU. 25 YET IF YOU PERSIST IN DOING EVIL, BOTH YOU AND YOUR KING WILL PERISH.”

HERE OBSERVE THE EVOLUTION OF THE WORK OF THE PROPHET:

HE NOT ONLY SPEAKS WITH AUTHORITY TO THE PEOPLE AND THE KING, HE NOW BECOMES AN INTERCESSOR (V. 23) HE BECOMES A TEACHER (V. 23)ALSO HE BECOMES A WATCHMAN OF THE NATION (V. 24-25)WITH POWER OF DECLARATION (V. 25)

A PROPHET IS TO BE RECOGNIZED AND RESPECTED

AS SUCH1SAMUEL 3:20 “AND ALL ISRAEL FROM DAN TO BEERSHEBA KNEW THAT SAMUEL WAS ESTABLISHED AS A PROPHET OF THE LORD.” 1SAMUEL 9:9 (FORMERLY IN ISRAEL, WHEN A MAN WENT TO INQUIRE OF GOD, HE SAID, "COME, LET US GO TO THE SEER," FOR TODAY'S "PROPHET" WAS FORMERLY CALLED A SEER.)

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SCHOOL OF PROPHETS

• THE SCHOOLS OF THE PROPHETS WERE ESTABLISHED BY THE PROPHET SAMUEL. THE FIRST MENTION OF THE “SONS OF THE PROPHETS”, AS ALL THE YOUNG MEN EDUCATED THAT WAY WERE CALLED, WE FIND IT IN 1 SAMUEL 10, WHEN SAUL IS ANOINTED AS KING.

• (1 SAMUEL 10:5) IN THE DAYS OF SAMUEL THERE WERE TWO SCHOOLS OF THE PROPHETS, ONE IN RAMAH, WHERE THE PROPHET SAMUEL LIVED, AND ONE IN KIRYAT YEARIM, WHERE IT WAS THE ARK OF THE COVENANT. LATER ON SOME MORE SCHOOLS OF THE PROPHETS WERE ESTABLISHED IN BETHEL (2 KINGS 2:3), JERICHO (2 REGI 2:15),GILGAL (2 KINGS 4:38) ETC.

AN EARLY PICTURE OF THE SCHOOL OF PROPHETS

(1 SAMUEL 10)• 10 THEN SAMUEL TOOK A FLASK OF OLIVE OIL AND POURED IT ON SAUL’S

HEAD AND KISSED HIM, SAYING, “HAS NOT THE LORD ANOINTED YOU RULER OVER HIS INHERITANCE?[A] 2 WHEN YOU LEAVE ME TODAY, YOU WILL MEET TWO MEN NEAR RACHEL’S TOMB, AT ZELZAH ON THE BORDER OF BENJAMIN. THEY WILL SAY TO YOU, ‘THE DONKEYS YOU SET OUT TO LOOK FOR HAVE BEEN FOUND. AND NOW YOUR FATHER HAS STOPPED THINKING ABOUT THEM AND IS WORRIED ABOUT YOU. HE IS ASKING, “WHAT SHALL I DO ABOUT MY SON?”’

• 3 “THEN YOU WILL GO ON FROM THERE UNTIL YOU REACH THE GREAT TREE OF TABOR. THREE MEN GOING UP TO WORSHIP GOD AT BETHEL WILL MEET YOU THERE. ONE WILL BE CARRYING THREE YOUNG GOATS, ANOTHER THREE LOAVES OF BREAD, AND ANOTHER A SKIN OF WINE. 4 THEY WILL GREET YOU AND OFFER YOU TWO LOAVES OF BREAD, WHICH YOU WILL ACCEPT FROM THEM.

1 SAMUEL 10• 5 “AFTER THAT YOU WILL GO TO GIBEAH OF GOD, WHERE

THERE IS A PHILISTINE OUTPOST. AS YOU APPROACH THE TOWN, YOU WILL MEET A PROCESSION OF PROPHETS COMING DOWN FROM THE HIGH PLACE WITH LYRES, TIMBRELS, PIPES AND HARPS BEING PLAYED BEFORE THEM, AND THEY WILL BE PROPHESYING. 6 THE SPIRITOF THE LORD WILL COME POWERFULLY UPON YOU, AND YOU WILL PROPHESY WITH THEM; AND YOU WILL BE CHANGED INTO A DIFFERENT PERSON. 7 ONCE THESE SIGNS ARE FULFILLED, DO WHATEVER YOUR HAND FINDS TO DO, FOR GOD IS WITH YOU.

THE PURPOSE FOR THE SCHOOL OF PROPHETS

NOTICE:ISRAEL ASKED FOR A KING. A HUMAN KINGDOM WITH HUMAN RULERS WILL SOON BE ESTABLISHED (WITH CAPTAINS OVER THOUSANDS, HUNDREDS, FIFTY’S ETC.)…THE NEED TO HEAR FROM GOD AND FOR DIVINE GUIDANCE WILL BE VERY MASSIVE, SO THERE WAS A NEED TO RAISE UP MANY PROPHETS

FROM JEWISH SOURCES• TO MEET THIS GROWING EVIL, GOD PROVIDED OTHER AGENCIES AS AN AID TO

PARENTS IN THE WORK OF EDUCATION. FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES, PROPHETS HAD BEEN RECOGNIZED AS TEACHERS DIVINELY APPOINTED. IN THE HIGHEST SENSE THE PROPHET WAS ONE WHO SPOKE BY DIRECT INSPIRATION, COMMUNICATING TO THE PEOPLE THE MESSAGES HE HAD RECEIVED FROM GOD. BUT THE NAME WAS GIVEN ALSO TO THOSE WHO, THOUGH NOT SO DIRECTLY INSPIRED, WERE DIVINELY CALLED TO INSTRUCT THE PEOPLE IN THE WORKS AND WAYS OF GOD. FOR THE TRAINING OF SUCH A CLASS OF TEACHERS, SAMUEL, BY THE LORD’S DIRECTION, ESTABLISHED THE SCHOOLS OF THE PROPHETS.

• THESE SCHOOLS WERE INTENDED TO SERVE AS A BARRIER AGAINST THE WIDE-SPREADING CORRUPTION, TO PROVIDE FOR THE MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL WELFARE OF THE YOUTH, AND TO PROMOTE THE PROSPERITY OF THE NATION BY FURNISHING IT WITH MEN QUALIFIED TO ACT IN THE FEAR OF GOD AS LEADERS AND COUNSELORS. TO THIS END, SAMUEL GATHERED COMPANIES OF YOUNG MEN WHO WERE PIOUS, INTELLIGENT, AND STUDIOUS. THESE WERE CALLED THE SONS OF THE PROPHETS…” (EDUCATION, 45-46)

SAMUEL DIES….I SAMUEL 25:1THEN SAMUEL DIED; AND THE ISRAELITES GATHERED TOGETHER AND LAMENTED FOR HIM, AND BURIED HIM AT HIS HOME IN RAMAH. AND DAVID AROSE AND WENT DOWN TO THE WILDERNESS OF PARAN.[A]

HERE, DAVID WAS NOT YET KING, BEFORE HIS DEATH, SAMUEL ALREADY ANOINTED DAVID AS KING (I SAMUEL 16) – AFTER SAMUEL ANOINTS DAVID, DAVID KILLS GOLIATH (CHAPTER 17)

IN THE TIME OF DAVID:I CHRONCILES 25

1 DAVID, TOGETHER WITH THE COMMANDERS OF THE ARMY, SET APART SOME OF THE SONS OF ASAPH, HEMAN AND JEDUTHUN FOR THE MINISTRY OF PROPHESYING, ACCOMPANIED BY HARPS, LYRES AND CYMBALS. HERE IS THE LIST OF THE MEN WHO PERFORMED THIS SERVICE:2 FROM THE SONS OF ASAPH:ZAKKUR, JOSEPH, NETHANIAH AND ASARELAH. THE SONS OF ASAPH WERE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF ASAPH, WHO PROPHESIED UNDER THE KING’S SUPERVISION.3 AS FOR JEDUTHUN, FROM HIS SONS:GEDALIAH, ZERI, JESHAIAH, SHIMEI,[A] HASHABIAH AND MATTITHIAH, SIX IN ALL, UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THEIR FATHER JEDUTHUN, WHO PROPHESIED, USING THE HARP IN THANKING AND PRAISING THE LORD.

1 CHRONICLES 254 AS FOR HEMAN, FROM HIS SONS:BUKKIAH, MATTANIAH, UZZIEL, SHUBAEL AND JERIMOTH; HANANIAH, HANANI, ELIATHAH, GIDDALTI AND ROMAMTI-EZER; JOSHBEKASHAH, MALLOTHI, HOTHIR AND MAHAZIOTH. 5 (ALL THESE WERE SONS OF HEMAN THE KING’S SEER. THEY WERE GIVEN HIM THROUGH THE PROMISES OF GOD TO EXALT HIM. GOD GAVE HEMAN FOURTEEN SONS AND THREE DAUGHTERS.)6 ALL THESE MEN WERE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THEIR FATHER FOR THE MUSIC OF THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD, WITH CYMBALS, LYRES AND HARPS, FOR THE MINISTRY AT THE HOUSE OF GOD.ASAPH, JEDUTHUN AND HEMAN WERE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE KING. 7 ALONG WITH THEIR RELATIVES — ALL OF THEM TRAINED AND SKILLED IN MUSIC FOR THE LORD THEY NUMBERED 288.

SEEING THE MIND OF GOD IN THE PLAN FOR THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE (I CHRONICLE 22-

27)CHAPTER 22 – PREPARATIONS FOR THE TEMPLECHAPTER 23 – THE ORGANIZATION OF THE PRIESTS AND LEVITES

- PRIESTS – 30 YRS OLD (V. 3)- GATEKEEPERS (V. 5)- MUSICIANS (V.5B)

DIVISION OF THE LEVITES – TWENTY YEARS OLD- COURTYARDS, SIDEROOMS, SACRED THINGS (V. 28-

29)- SINGERS TO SING DAY AND NIGHT (V, 30)

THE ORGANIZATION OF THE TEMPLE: (I CHRON. 22)

CHAPTER 24 – THE DIVISION OF THE PRIESTS (MAIN WORK: SACRIFICES, INTERCESSION)CHAPTER 25 – THE SINGERS AND MUSICIANS (MAIN: PROPHESYING)CHAPTER 26 – THE GATEKEEPERS (MAIN WORK: DEFENSE)CHAPTER 27 – THE DIVISION OF THE ARMY (MAIN WORK: FIGHTING)

THE RESTORATION OF THE FALLEN TENT OF DAVID (AMOS

9)11 “IN THAT DAY“I WILL RESTORE DAVID’S FALLEN SHELTER (HOUSE, TENT, TABERNACLE)—    I WILL REPAIR ITS BROKEN WALLS    AND RESTORE ITS RUINS—    AND WILL REBUILD IT AS IT USED TO BE,12 SO THAT THEY MAY POSSESS THE REMNANT OF EDOM    AND ALL THE NATIONS THAT BEAR MY NAME,[E]”DECLARES THE LORD, WHO WILL DO THESE THINGS.13 “THE DAYS ARE COMING,” DECLARES THE LORD,“WHEN THE REAPER WILL BE OVERTAKEN BY THE PLOWMAN    AND THE PLANTER BY THE ONE TREADING GRAPES.NEW WINE WILL DRIP FROM THE MOUNTAINS    AND FLOW FROM ALL THE HILLS,14     AND I WILL BRING MY PEOPLE ISRAEL BACK FROM EXILE.[F]

“THEY WILL REBUILD THE RUINED CITIES AND LIVE IN THEM.    THEY WILL PLANT VINEYARDS AND DRINK THEIR WINE;    THEY WILL MAKE GARDENS AND EAT THEIR FRUIT.15 I WILL PLANT ISRAEL IN THEIR OWN LAND,    NEVER AGAIN TO BE UPROOTED    FROM THE LAND I HAVE GIVEN THEM,”SAYS THE LORD YOUR GOD.

IN THE PERIOD OF THE KINGS (POST SOLOMON ERA)

SAMUEL’S SCHOOL OF PROPHETS WANED…ELIJAH AND ELISHA REBUILT THE SCHOOL, AND CONTINUED WITH IT

ELIJAH REBUILD’S SAMUEL SCHOOL PF PROPHETS

• THE SCHOOLS OF THE PROPHETS, ESTABLISHED BY SAMUEL, HAD FALLEN INTO DECAY DURING THE YEARS OF ISRAEL’S APOSTASY. ELIJAH RE-ESTABLISHED THESE SCHOOLS, MAKING PROVISION FOR YOUNG MEN TO GAIN AN EDUCATION THAT WOULD LEAD THEM TO MAGNIFY THE LAW AND MAKE IT HONORABLE. THREE OF THESE SCHOOLS, ONE AT GILGAL, ONE AT BETHEL, AND ONE AT JERICHO, ARE MENTIONED IN THE RECORD.…

• THE HEART OF ELIJAH WAS CHEERED AS HE SAW WHAT WAS BEING ACCOMPLISHED BY MEANS OF THESE SCHOOLS. THE WORK OF REFORMATION WAS NOT COMPLETE, BUT HE COULD SEE THROUGHOUT THE KINGDOM A VERIFICATION OF THE WORD OF THE LORD, “YET I HAVE LEFT ME SEVEN THOUSAND IN ISRAEL, ALL THE KNEES WHICH HAVE NOT BOWED UNTO BAAL.”

THE CURRICULUM OF THE FIRST SCHOOL/S OF PROPHETS:

1. THE TORAH !! (ALSO CALLED THE LAW OF MOSES)

2. SACRED HISTORY3. AND SACRED MUSIC (SAUL MET

THE INTERNS OF THE SCHOOL OF PROPHETS PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS)

1 SAMUEL 10• 5 “AFTER THAT YOU WILL GO TO GIBEAH OF GOD, WHERE

THERE IS A PHILISTINE OUTPOST. AS YOU APPROACH THE TOWN, YOU WILL MEET A PROCESSION OF PROPHETS COMING DOWN FROM THE HIGH PLACE WITH LYRES, TIMBRELS, PIPES AND HARPS BEING PLAYED BEFORE THEM, AND THEY WILL BE PROPHESYING. 6 THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD WILL COME POWERFULLY UPON YOU, AND YOU WILL PROPHESY WITH THEM; AND YOU WILL BE CHANGED INTO A DIFFERENT PERSON. 7 ONCE THESE SIGNS ARE FULFILLED, DO WHATEVER YOUR HAND FINDS TO DO, FOR GOD IS WITH YOU.

MUSIC AND PROPHESYING

• MOREOVER, DAVID AND THE COMMANDERS OF THE ARMY SET APART FOR THE SERVICE SOME OF THE SONS OF ASAPH AND OF HEMAN AND OF JEDUTHUN, WHO WERE TO PROPHESY WITH LYRES, HARPS AND CYMBALS; AND THE NUMBER OF THOSE WHO PERFORMED THEIR SERVICE WAS: AS FOR JEDUTHUN, FROM HIS SONS: GEDALIAH, ZERI, JESHAIAH, SHIMEI, HASHABIAH AND MATTITHIAH, SIX IN ALL, UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THEIR FATHER JEDUTHUN, WHO PROPHESIED, USING THE HARP IN THANKING AND PRAISING THE LORD.

• (1 CHRONICLES 25:1-3, NIV)

HOW THEY EXPLAINED THE MUSIC CURRICULUM:

• “THE ART OF SACRED MELODY WAS DILIGENTLY CULTIVATED. NO FRIVOLOUS WALTZ WAS HEARD, NOR FLIPPANT SONG THAT SHOULD EXTOL MAN AND DIVERT THE ATTENTION FROM GOD; BUT SACRED, SOLEMN PSALMS OF PRAISE TO THE CREATOR, EXALTING HIS NAME AND RECOUNTING HIS WONDROUS WORKS. THUS MUSIC WAS MADE TO SERVE A HOLY PURPOSE, TO LIFT THE THOUGHTS TO THAT WHICH WAS PURE AND NOBLE AND ELEVATING, AND TO AWAKEN IN THE SOUL DEVOTION AND GRATITUDE TO GOD.” 

MUSIC IN THE NEW TESTAMENT:

• LET THE MESSAGE OF CHRIST DWELL AMONG YOU RICHLY AS YOU TEACH AND ADMONISH ONE ANOTHER WITH ALL WISDOM THROUGH PSALMS, HYMNS, AND SONGS FROM THE SPIRIT, SINGING TO GOD WITH GRATITUDE IN YOUR HEARTS. (COLOSSIANS 3:16, NIV)

"After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.“ Matthew 26:30

This was the LAST PASSOVER at which Yeshua told his disciples to remember him and his sacrifice with bread and wine.In ancient Passover services, as recorded in the Mishnah, the meal ended with singing the so-called "Second Hallel" (Psalms 115–118). Then came the Fourth Cup, following by the "Blessing of the Song" (a kind of reprise of previous hymns sung during the Seder) (Mishnah, Pesachim).The phrase translated "singing a hymn" in Matthew 26:30 is one word in Greek: humneo. It means to hymn, sing praise, celebrate or worship with hymns. Thus, v. 30 says, "after they hymned" or "after hymning" (Grk,humnesantes) they left the upper room where the meal was enjoyed.

TEHILAH – NEW SONG

ACTS 1622 THE CROWD JOINED IN THE ATTACK AGAINST PAUL AND SILAS, AND THE MAGISTRATES ORDERED THEM TO BE STRIPPED AND BEATEN WITH RODS. 23 AFTER THEY HAD BEEN SEVERELY FLOGGED, THEY WERE THROWN INTO PRISON, AND THE JAILER WAS COMMANDED TO GUARD THEM CAREFULLY. 24 WHEN HE RECEIVED THESE ORDERS, HE PUT THEM IN THE INNER CELL AND FASTENED THEIR FEET IN THE STOCKS.25 ABOUT MIDNIGHT PAUL AND SILAS WERE PRAYING AND SINGING HYMNS TO GOD, AND THE OTHER PRISONERS WERE LISTENING TO THEM. 26 SUDDENLY THERE WAS SUCH A VIOLENT EARTHQUAKE THAT THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE PRISON WERE SHAKEN. AT ONCE ALL THE PRISON DOORS FLEW OPEN, AND EVERYONE’S CHAINS CAME LOOSE. 27 THE JAILER WOKE UP, AND WHEN HE SAW THE PRISON DOORS OPEN, HE DREW HIS SWORD AND WAS ABOUT TO KILL HIMSELF BECAUSE HE THOUGHT THE PRISONERS HAD ESCAPED. 28 BUT PAUL SHOUTED, “DON’T HARM YOURSELF! WE ARE ALL HERE!”29 THE JAILER CALLED FOR LIGHTS, RUSHED IN AND FELL TREMBLING BEFORE PAUL AND SILAS.30 HE THEN BROUGHT THEM OUT AND ASKED, “SIRS, WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?”31 THEY REPLIED, “BELIEVE IN THE LORD JESUS, AND YOU WILL BE SAVED—YOU AND YOUR HOUSEHOLD.” 

HOW THE SCHOOL OF PROPHETS WAS FINANCED

• THE SCHOOLS OF THE PROPHETS AND THE PRINCIPLE OF SELF-SUPPORT

• “THE PUPILS OF THESE SCHOOLS SUSTAINED THEMSELVES BY THEIR OWN LABOR IN TILLING THE SOIL OR IN SOME MECHANICAL EMPLOYMENT. IN ISRAEL THIS WAS NOT THOUGHT STRANGE OR DEGRADING; INDEED, IT WAS REGARDED AS A SIN TO ALLOW CHILDREN TO GROW UP IN IGNORANCE OF USEFUL LABOR. EVERY YOUTH, WHETHER HIS PARENTS WERE RICH OR POOR, WAS TAUGHT SOME TRADE. EVEN THOUGH HE WAS TO BE EDUCATED FOR HOLY OFFICE, A KNOWLEDGE OF PRACTICAL LIFE WAS REGARDED AS ESSENTIAL TO THE GREATEST USEFULNESS. MANY, ALSO, OF THE TEACHERS SUPPORTED THEMSELVES BY MANUAL LABOR“.

THE DISCIPLINES OF THE SCHOOL OF PROPHETS:

1. DEVOTION TO GOD2. HOW TO PRAY “IT HAPPENED THAT WHILE JESUS WAS PRAYING IN A CERTAIN PLACE, AFTER HE HAD FINISHED, ONE OF HIS DISCIPLES SAID TO HIM, "LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY JUST AS JOHN ALSO TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES." (LUKE 11:1-2)3. HOW TO APPROACH THEIR CREATOR4. HOW TO EXERCISE FAITH IN HIM5. HOW TO UNDERSTAND AND OBEY THE TEACHINGS OF HIS SPIRIT.

DURING THE TIME OF JESUS:NO MORE SCHOOL OF THE PROPHETS BY THE TIME OF JESUS

THE 400 YEARS OF SILENCE REFERS TO THE TIME BETWEEN THE OLD TESTAMENT AND NEW TESTAMENTS, DURING WHICH GOD DID NOT SPEAK TO THE JEWISH PEOPLE. THE 400 YEARS OF SILENCE BEGAN WITH THE WARNING THAT CLOSED THE OLD TESTAMENT: “BEHOLD, I AM GOING TO SEND YOU ELIJAH THE PROPHET BEFORE THE COMING OF THE GREAT AND TERRIBLE DAY OF THE LORD. HE WILL RESTORE THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS TO THEIR CHILDREN AND THE HEARTS OF THE CHILDREN TO THEIR FATHERS, SO THAT I WILL NOT COME AND SMITE THE LAND WITH A CURSE" (MALACHI 4:5-6) AND ENDED WITH THE COMING OF JOHN THE BAPTIST, THE MESSIAH’S FORERUNNER. 

SO WHAT HAPPENS NOW TO THE PROPHETS? (EPHESIANS 4:11-

16)“11 SO CHRIST HIMSELF GAVE THE APOSTLES, THE PROPHETS, THE EVANGELISTS, THE PASTORS AND TEACHERS, 12 TO EQUIP HIS PEOPLE FOR WORKS OF SERVICE, SO THAT THE BODY OF CHRIST MAY BE BUILT UP13 UNTIL WE ALL REACH UNITY IN THE FAITH AND IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SON OF GOD AND BECOME MATURE, ATTAINING TO THE WHOLE MEASURE OF THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST.14 THEN WE WILL NO LONGER BE INFANTS, TOSSED BACK AND FORTH BY THE WAVES, AND BLOWN HERE AND THERE BY EVERY WIND OF TEACHING AND BY THE CUNNING AND CRAFTINESS OF PEOPLE IN THEIR DECEITFUL SCHEMING. 15 INSTEAD, SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE, WE WILL GROW TO BECOME IN EVERY RESPECT THE MATURE BODY OF HIM WHO IS THE HEAD, THAT IS, CHRIST. 16 FROM HIM THE WHOLE BODY, JOINED AND HELD TOGETHER BY EVERY SUPPORTING LIGAMENT, GROWS AND BUILDS ITSELF UP IN LOVE, AS EACH PART DOES ITS WORK.”

I CORINTHIANS 1227 NOW YOU ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST, AND EACH ONE OF YOU IS A PART OF IT. 28 AND GOD HAS PLACED IN THE CHURCH FIRST OF ALL APOSTLES, SECOND PROPHETS, THIRD TEACHERS, THEN MIRACLES, THEN GIFTS OF HEALING, OF HELPING, OF GUIDANCE, AND OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF TONGUES. 29 ARE ALL APOSTLES? ARE ALL PROPHETS? ARE ALL TEACHERS? DO ALL WORK MIRACLES? 30 DO ALL HAVE GIFTS OF HEALING? DO ALL SPEAK IN TONGUES[D]? DO ALL INTERPRET? 31 NOW EAGERLY DESIRE THE GREATER GIFTS.

PROPHETS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

• ANNA.• ELIZABETH.• JESUS.• JOHN THE BAPTIST.• JOSEPH.• MARY.• SIMEON.• ZECHARIAH.

NEW TESTAMENT PROPHETS(ACTS 11)

26 … AND THE DISCIPLES WERE FIRST CALLED CHRSTIANS IN ANTIOCH27 DURING THIS TIME SOME PROPHETS CAME DOWN FROM JERUSALEM TO ANTIOCH.28 ONE OF THEM, NAMED AGABUS, STOOD UP AND THROUGH THE SPIRIT PREDICTED THAT A SEVERE FAMINE WOULD SPREAD OVER THE ENTIRE ROMAN WORLD. (THIS HAPPENED DURING THE REIGN OF CLAUDIUS.) 29 THE DISCIPLES, AS EACH ONE WAS ABLE, DECIDED TO PROVIDE HELP FOR THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS LIVING IN JUDEA. 30 THIS THEY DID, SENDING THEIR GIFT TO THE ELDERS BY BARNABAS AND SAUL.

ACTS 13 1 NOW IN THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH THERE WERE PROPHETS AND TEACHERS: BARNABAS, SIMEON CALLED NIGER, LUCIUS OF CYRENE, MANAEN (WHO HAD BEEN BROUGHT UP WITH HEROD THE TETRARCH) AND SAUL. 2 WHILE THEY WERE WORSHIPING THE LORD AND FASTING, THE HOLY SPIRIT SAID, “SET APART FOR ME BARNABAS AND SAUL FOR THE WORK TO WHICH I HAVE CALLED THEM.” 3 SO AFTER THEY HAD FASTED AND PRAYED, THEY PLACED THEIR HANDS ON THEM AND SENT THEM OFF.

ACTS 15(THE DELIBERATION OF THE

COUNCIL IN JERUSALEM)30 SO THE MEN WERE SENT OFF AND WENT DOWN TO ANTIOCH, WHERE THEY GATHERED THE CHURCH TOGETHER AND DELIVERED THE LETTER. 31 THE PEOPLE READ IT AND WERE GLAD FOR ITS ENCOURAGING MESSAGE. 32 JUDAS AND SILAS, WHO THEMSELVES WERE PROPHETS, SAID MUCH TO ENCOURAGE AND STRENGTHEN THE BELIEVERS. 33 AFTER SPENDING SOME TIME THERE, THEY WERE SENT OFF BY THE BELIEVERS WITH THE BLESSING OF PEACE TO RETURN TO THOSE WHO HAD SENT THEM. [34] [D] 35 BUT PAUL AND BARNABAS REMAINED IN ANTIOCH, WHERE THEY AND MANY OTHERS TAUGHT AND PREACHED THE WORD OF THE LORD.

ACTS 21• 7 WE CONTINUED OUR VOYAGE FROM TYRE AND LANDED AT

PTOLEMAIS, WHERE WE GREETED THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND STAYED WITH THEM FOR A DAY. 8 LEAVING THE NEXT DAY, WE REACHED CAESAREA AND STAYED AT THE HOUSE OF PHILIP THE EVANGELIST, ONE OF THE SEVEN. 9 HE HAD FOUR UNMARRIED DAUGHTERS WHO PROPHESIED.

• 10 AFTER WE HAD BEEN THERE A NUMBER OF DAYS, A PROPHET NAMED AGABUS CAME DOWN FROM JUDEA. 11 COMING OVER TO US, HE TOOK PAUL’S BELT, TIED HIS OWN HANDS AND FEET WITH IT AND SAID, “THE HOLY SPIRIT SAYS, ‘IN THIS WAY THE JEWISH LEADERS IN JERUSALEM WILL BIND THE OWNER OF THIS BELT AND WILL HAND HIM OVER TO THE GENTILES.’”

I CORINTHIANS 14:THE CHURCH AS THE

PROPHETIC COMMUNITY (SCHOOL OF PROPHETS)26 WHAT THEN SHALL WE SAY, BROTHERS AND SISTERS? WHEN YOU COME TOGETHER, EACH OF YOU HAS A HYMN, OR A WORD OF INSTRUCTION, A REVELATION, A TONGUE OR AN INTERPRETATION. EVERYTHING MUST BE DONE SO THAT THE CHURCH MAY BE BUILT UP.27 IF ANYONE SPEAKS IN A TONGUE, TWO—OR AT THE MOST THREE—SHOULD SPEAK, ONE AT A TIME, AND SOMEONE MUST INTERPRET. 28 IF THERE IS NO INTERPRETER, THE SPEAKER SHOULD KEEP QUIET IN THE CHURCH AND SPEAK TO HIMSELF AND TO GOD.29 TWO OR THREE PROPHETS SHOULD SPEAK, AND THE OTHERS SHOULD WEIGH CAREFULLY WHAT IS SAID. 30 AND IF A REVELATION COMES TO SOMEONE WHO IS SITTING DOWN, THE FIRST SPEAKER SHOULD STOP. 31 FOR YOU CAN ALL PROPHESY IN TURN SO THAT EVERYONE MAY BE INSTRUCTED AND ENCOURAGED. 32 THE SPIRITS OF PROPHETS ARE SUBJECT TO THE CONTROL OF PROPHETS. 33 FOR GOD IS NOT A GOD OF DISORDER BUT OF PEACE—AS IN ALL THE CONGREGATIONS OF THE LORD’S PEOPLE.

EPHESIANS 2:20• 14 FOR HE HIMSELF IS OUR PEACE, WHO HAS MADE THE TWO GROUPS

ONE AND HAS DESTROYED THE BARRIER, THE DIVIDING WALL OF HOSTILITY, 15 BY SETTING ASIDE IN HIS FLESH THE LAW WITH ITS COMMANDS AND REGULATIONS. HIS PURPOSE WAS TO CREATE IN HIMSELF ONE NEW HUMANITY OUT OF THE TWO, THUS MAKING PEACE, 16 AND IN ONE BODY TO RECONCILE BOTH OF THEM TO GOD THROUGH THE CROSS, BY WHICH HE PUT TO DEATH THEIR HOSTILITY. 17 HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR. 18 FOR THROUGH HIM WE BOTH HAVE ACCESS TO THE FATHER BY ONE SPIRIT.

• 19 CONSEQUENTLY, YOU ARE NO LONGER FOREIGNERS AND STRANGERS, BUT FELLOW CITIZENS WITH GOD’S PEOPLE AND ALSO MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD, 20 BUILT ON THE FOUNDATION OF THE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS, WITH CHRIST JESUS HIMSELF AS THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE. 21 IN HIM THE WHOLE BUILDING IS JOINED TOGETHER AND RISES TO BECOME A HOLY TEMPLE IN THE LORD. 22 AND IN HIM YOU TOO ARE BEING BUILT TOGETHER TO BECOME A DWELLING IN WHICH GOD LIVES BY HIS SPIRIT.

• QUESTION: WHO ARE THE PROPHETS REFERRED TO IN V. 20?

VERY INTERESTING PASSAGE: EPHESIANS 3:5

“1 FOR THIS REASON I, PAUL, THE PRISONER OF CHRIST JESUS FOR THE SAKE OF YOU GENTILES—2 SURELY YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATION OF GOD’S GRACE THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME FOR YOU, 3 THAT IS, THE MYSTERY MADE KNOWN TO ME BY REVELATION, AS I HAVE ALREADY WRITTEN BRIEFLY. 4 IN READING THIS, THEN, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND MY INSIGHT INTO THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST,5 WHICH WAS NOT MADE KNOWN TO PEOPLE IN OTHER GENERATIONS AS IT HAS NOW BEEN REVEALED BY THE SPIRIT TO GOD’S HOLY APOSTLES AND PROPHETS. 6 THIS MYSTERY IS THAT THROUGH THE GOSPEL THE GENTILES ARE HEIRS TOGETHER WITH ISRAEL, MEMBERS TOGETHER OF ONE BODY, AND SHARERS TOGETHER IN THE PROMISE IN CHRIST JESUS.”

QUESTION: WHO ARE THE PROPHETS REFERRED TO IN V. 5 – THE OLD TESTAMENT OR NEW TESTAMENT PROPHETS?

FINALLY, IN REVELATION(REVELATION 11)

• 11 I WAS GIVEN A REED LIKE A MEASURING ROD AND WAS TOLD, “GO AND MEASURE THE TEMPLE OF GOD AND THE ALTAR, WITH ITS WORSHIPERS. 2 BUT EXCLUDE THE OUTER COURT; DO NOT MEASURE IT, BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE GENTILES. THEY WILL TRAMPLE ON THE HOLY CITY FOR 42 MONTHS. 3 AND I WILL APPOINT MY TWO WITNESSES, AND THEY WILL PROPHESY FOR 1,260 DAYS, CLOTHED IN SACKCLOTH.” 4 THEY ARE “THE TWO OLIVE TREES” AND THE TWO LAMPSTANDS, AND “THEY STAND BEFORE THE LORD OF THE EARTH.”[A] 5 IF ANYONE TRIES TO HARM THEM, FIRE COMES FROM THEIR MOUTHS AND DEVOURS THEIR ENEMIES. THIS IS HOW ANYONE WHO WANTS TO HARM THEM MUST DIE.6 THEY HAVE POWER TO SHUT UP THE HEAVENS SO THAT IT WILL NOT RAIN DURING THE TIME THEY ARE PROPHESYING; AND THEY HAVE POWER TO TURN THE WATERS INTO BLOODAND TO STRIKE THE EARTH WITH EVERY KIND OF PLAGUE AS OFTEN AS THEY WANT.

CONCLUSION:1. GOD’S REVEALED WORK FROM ABRAHAM TO REVELATION

ALWAYS REQUIRED THE USE AND INVOLVEMENT OF PROPHETS

2. A PROPHET BELONGS TO OR WORKS IN A COMMUNITY(EVEN JOHN THE BAPTIST, THE GREATEST OF THE PROPHETS HAD A COMMUNITY OF DISCIPLES…LUKE 11:1 “LORD TEACH US TO PRAY AS JOHN

TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES TO PRAY…” WHICH IS MOST LIKELY THAT JOHN HAD A SCHOOL OF PROPHETS)3. THE OFFICE OF THE PROPHET, THE GIFT OF PROPHESYING, AND THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY ARE ALL CURRENT GIFTS OF THE LORD – THEY HAVE NOT CEASED

THE JOEL 2:28 PROMISED OUTPOURING

28 “AND AFTERWARD,    I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT ON ALL PEOPLE.YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS WILL PROPHESY,    YOUR OLD MEN WILL DREAM DREAMS,    YOUR YOUNG MEN WILL SEE VISIONS.29 EVEN ON MY SERVANTS, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN,    I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT IN THOSE DAYS.30 I WILL SHOW WONDERS IN THE HEAVENS    AND ON THE EARTH,    BLOOD AND FIRE AND BILLOWS OF SMOKE.31 THE SUN WILL BE TURNED TO DARKNESS    AND THE MOON TO BLOOD    BEFORE THE COMING OF THE GREAT AND DREADFUL DAY OF THE LORD.32 AND EVERYONE WHO CALLS    ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED;FOR ON MOUNT ZION AND IN JERUSALEM    THERE WILL BE DELIVERANCE,    AS THE LORD HAS SAID,EVEN AMONG THE SURVIVORS    WHOM THE LORD CALLS.[C]

LET US ASK THE LORD TO ESTABLISH HIS SCHOOL OR COMMUNITY OF PROPHETS IN

OUR MIDST: