Supernatural #10: Last Days Prophetic Ministry Series

SUPERNATURAL #10: LAST DAYS PROPHETIC MINISTRY

INTRO TO TOPIC:

Today is our tenth week in our Supernatural Series in the Book of Acts.

OPENING TEXT:

“16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 ’And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. 18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath… 21 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.” (Acts 2:16-21).

• God wants to pour out His Spirit on all believers so we can prophesy His Word.

• When we do this, multitudes of people will come to know Jesus as Saviour!

THE BIG IDEA: God is raising up the last days prophetic generation that Joel prophesied about. He wants us to become a prophetic people who hear His voice, and proclaim His living word to others. When we do this, people will be encouraged, comforted, and set free.

THREE EXAMPLES OF PROPHETIC PEOPLE IN ACTS:

1. STEPHEN:

• We first read Stephen’s story three weeks ago:

“But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” (Acts 7:55-56).

• When Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit, he engaged the prophetic realms of revelation:

• He saw an open Heaven, the glory of God, and a vision of Jesus

2. PHILIP:

• Review his story from two weeks ago: He was just a regular Christian who preached Christ, did many signs and wonders, people got saved, and there was great joy in the city.

• Let’s take a look at the second part of his story:

“So when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans. Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is desert.” (Acts 8:25-26).

• Here Philip too engaged the prophetic realms of revelation – he had an encounter with an angel. The angel spoke to him and gave him direction: “Arise and go…”

“So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go near and overtake this chariot." So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.” (Acts 8:27-31).

• Next, the Holy Spirit spoke to Philip and told him to go to the chariot.

• When Philip obeyed the Spirit, he had a God opportunity to minister to someone.

“Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.” (Acts 8:35-38).

• Because Philip was led by the Spirit, he had an opportunity to lead someone to the Lord.

• We need to learn to listen for that still small voice, and obey it!

3. ANANIAS:

• Note here is just another ‘regular’ disciple. None of these Christians who are seen here engaging the prophetic realm were pastors or preachers!

“Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." So the Lord said to him, "Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. And in a vision (Saul had a vision, too!) he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight." Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name." But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake." And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.” (Acts 9:10-20).