Ping!
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The Holy Spirit and His gifts are given to the church as a whole, as HE will.
Acts 2:17-18 And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
Who are these “Professionals?”
The looney liars in the pulpets that have drummed up all the fantastic scenarios?
The Bible is self interpreting.
It is written to be understood by everyone.
Yeshua told his disciples that we are all equal, there are no “experts,” or “great men.”
2 Peter, Chapter 1:
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy, unto which ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn and the day star arise in your hearts,
20 knowing this first: that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in olden times by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
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Come to the playground and get eddikated!
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From what I read the experts are often surprised by unexpected developments.
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(The level of belligerent bellicosity displayed here in reaction to a gentle and mischievous article aimed at certain folks with higher ranks, like this article by Fr. Rutler, is very hard to believe.)
(By the way, Fr. Mitch has former Catholic-basher and "Assembly of God" preacher, Tim Staples on as a guest right now (Wed., 1/21/15, 9PM) on "EWTN Live", for anyone who might be interested.)
The Major Prophets
1. Isaias. The book of Isaias contains two parts: A book of judgments (1-35) and a book of consolations (40-66). The first describes the punishments which God will inflict upon pagan nations and upon the chosen people, though less severely upon the fatter because of its Messianic faith; the second predicts the liberation of the Jewish people from Babylonian captivity and the establishment of the Messianic kingdom. In a historical section (36-39) the prophet describes the invasion of Juda by the Assyrian Sennacherib. Because of his minute description of the Person and work of Our Lord, Isaias is called the Evangelist of the Old Testament Chapters 7 to 12 are described as the "Book of the Emmanuel."
2. Jeremias. Though wanting in chronological order the book of Jeremias may be roughly divided into two sections: prophecies dealing with the punishment about to be inflicted upon Juda be cause of its ingratitude, infidelity, obstinacy, and lack of a true inward spirit in its worships (1-45); prophecies about other nations (46-51). In a historical appendix the author describes the capture and destruction of the Temple and of the city of Jerusalem. The Lamentations of Jeremias are five elegiac songs in which the author laments over the fall of Jerusalem and the miseries of its people. In the original Hebrew each stanza begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The Prophecy of Baruch, a disciple and secretary of Jeremias, describes the grief, repentance and hopes of the Jews in Babylonian Captivity.
3. Ezechiel. Ezechiel was called to the prophetical office the fifth year of the Babylonian captivity, about seven years before the downfall of Jerusalem. The book of Ezechiel falls naturally into two parts: the first contains prophecies pronounced before the downfall of Jerusalem in 587 (2-32), the second (33-48), the prophecies pronounced after the destruction of the holy city; the first deals with God's judgments pronounced against the chosen people and the pagan nations because of their wickedness and impenitence, the second deals with the restoration of the theocratic kingdom of the new Israel, and with the new Temple and its worship; the first deals with divine justice, the second, with divine mercy.
4. Daniel. Daniel, of noble blood and of the tribe of Juda, was carried into Babylonian captivity together with other prominent Jews in the year 606 B.C. Here he was educated at the court of Nabuchodonosor and, because of his wisdom, was highly regarded by the king. The book of Daniel tells us about his own life (1-6) and records his visions and prophecies (7-12). The concluding chapters narrate the story of the chaste Susanna and of Bel, the idol (13-14).
Minor Prophets
1. Osee. Osee preached and wrote in the kingdom of Israel in the eighth century B.C. In the first part of his book (1-3) he explains in symbolical language the relations and covenant between God and Israel, and in the second (4-14) denounces the idolatry, corruption and infidelity of the priests and princes, predicts God's punishment, the repentance of the people and eventual happiness.
2. Joel. In the first section (1 to 2:17) the prophet describes the evils that are about to befall Juda and urges the people to repent; in the second part (2:18 to 3:21) he predicts the blessings of the Messianic kingdom, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all flesh, and the final judgment.
3. Amos. The book contains the prophet's sermons against the sins and wickedness of the kingdom of Israel (3-6) and five symbolical visions (7-9) illustrating the evils about to come upon Israel.
4. Abdias. The prophet describes the destruction of Edom because of its iniquity and injustices to Jacob, and predicts the salvation of Israel.
5. Jonas describes the effects of the prophet's mission and teaching in the luxurious city of Ninive.
6. Micheas. The prophet Micheas lived in the kingdom of Juda at the time of Isaias before the destruction of Samaria in 722. The book is divided into three parts each one of which begins with the word "Hear." The first part (1-2) contains God's judgments against Israel and Juda; the second (3-5), a condemnation of the sins of the false prophets and judges, and the third (6-7), God's expostulation with the Jews and the salvation of all mankind.
7. Nahum. Describes the capture and destruction of Ninive.
8. Habacuc predicts the destruction of Juda by the Chaldeans and describes the punishment that will be meted out to Babylon.
9. Sophonias inveighs against the sins of the kingdom of Juda, predicts dire punishment for it, announces God's judgments against the outside pagan nations, prophesies a severe punishment for the city of Jerusalem but ends with a note of encouragement and hope.
10. Aggeus was active among the exiles who returned from the Babylonian captivity. He rebuked the people for their indifference and urged them to rebuild the Temple. He assured the people that the second temple would be more glorious than the first because it would be honored by the presence of the Messias.
11. Zacharias likewise worked among the returned exiles. In eight visions (1-6) he predicts the glory of the Messianic kingdom. He combats an incipient Pharisaism (7-8), and describes the victory of the Messianic kingdom over its enemies (9-14). The book contains interesting details about the Passion of Our Lord.
12. Malachias was the last prophet before John the Baptist. He lived in the time of Esdras and Nehemias. He rebuked the priests for neglecting the worship of God and inveighed against mixed marriages. He predicted the coming of the Messias and His precursor, and announced a new sacrifice and a new priesthood.
Professional Christians and spectator Christians a snap shot of what is wrong with the church.
We all are the Bride of Christ, sons of God, friends of God, Royal Priests, Ambassadors of reconciliation; we are the body of Christ. There are to be no professionals or spectators but a body, a community of Jesus Christ united as one in Him bringing His kingdom to lost and dying people around the world.
1 Cor 14: (that we would all prophesy)
Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.
Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.
For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.