INTRODUCTION:
Today, we have been looking in general at the theme of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Thus far, we have found that God does not want us to be ignorant regarding the gifts of the Holy Spirit for he has given the gifts of the Holy Spirit by his appointment to each one of us for the building up of the body of Christ.
Let me begin by saying that "prophecy" has become a very mistrusted word in our time. There are those prophecies, especially in America over the years that have predicted the end of the world - many of them associated with dispensational theology - each one of them so far failed prophecies.
Our focus is to get a good biblical perspective on prophecy so that we can recognize/discern what is the kind of prophecy that is of God and what is not.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:
Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I would like everyone of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified. But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you." I Corinthians 14:1-5, 24,25 NIV
DEFINITIONS OF PROPHECY:
• An inspired, anointed utterance, given by anyone who has a prophetic gift. It edifies, comforts, exhorts and instructs God’s people.
• To utter forth, to declare a thing.
to utter forth, to declare a thing
PURPOSE OF PROPHECY:
The three fundamental functions of prophecies are:
1. Edification - moral improvement (2 Sam 12: 7-14).
2. Exhortation - earnest advise/request (Acts 21:10-15, 15:32).
3. Comfort - peace and hope during hopeless situations.
Prophecy can be likened to a vehicle which conveys divine revelation to individuals or to the entire church.
Examples: Acts 13:1-3; 11:27-30, 2Kings 22:14-20
DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN SIMPLE GIFT OF PROPHECY AND PROPHET:
A layman may prophesy, but you are not a prophet just because you prophesy.
The four daughters of Philip did prophesy. That means they were operating under the simple gift of prophecy, “speaking unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort” (I Cor. 14:3).
Office of the Prophet
To stand in the office of the prophet, one must have a more consistent manifestation of at least two of the revelation gifts:
1. Word of wisdom: supernatural revelation revealed by Spirit concerning the divine purpose in the mind and will of God. Always speaks of the future.
2. Word of knowledge: supernatural revelation by the Spirit of facts in the mind of God concerning people, places of things. Always present or past tense.
3. Discerning of spirits: Supernatural insight into the realm of spirits, seeing and hearing in the spirit realm.
Again, any spirit-filled believer might have occasional manifestation of these gifts as the Spirit wills. But a prophet would also have the above gifts more consistent and stand in the place of preacher or teacher of the Word.
Prophets in the Old Testament were called “seers”. They would see and know things supernaturally. People under the Old Testament went to the prophet for guidance. Only the king, the priest, and the prophet were anointed by the Spirit to stand in this office. The rest of the people had no tangible Presence of God in their lives. They didn’t have the Spirit of God either on them or in them. Unless God saw fit to move and demonstrate Himself in the natural realm, as in the case of Gideon, people would have to go to the prophet for guidance.
Under the New Testament, it is unscriptural to seek guidance through the ministry of the prophet. We have a better covenant (Heb. 8:6). We have the same Presence of God within us that was keep shut up in the Holy of Holies. He is living with us. He is within us to lead us (For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Rom. 8:14). Every believer needs to learn to follow the Spirit for himself. He shouldn’t have to go to anyone for guidance. Many people have controlled others lives through personal prophecy. Know in your own spirit that God is leading you. If whatever someone else says confirms what you have in your spirit, fine. If it doesn’t, forget it.
In gift of prophecy, put the Word first! Don’t build a ministry or your life on prophecies. Build your ministry on the Word.
Misconceptions about Office of the Prophet:
• Many people think that a prophet should just prophesy. But the foremost ministry of the prophet is to preach or teach the Word.
• Many think that a prophet knows everything about everyone and everything that is happening round about him. The Lord only tells a prophet what He wants him to know. He doesn’t tell a prophet everything.
• Many think they can come up to a prophet and say “do you have a Word for me”? You cannot conjure up these things a you will. God may give a Word and sometimes He may not.
• You can grieve the Holy Spirit so He won’t show you anything else because He can’t trust you.
• Don’t be taken up with names and titles.
Prophecy should always be given and received, and evaluated in love. People with the gift of prophecy will make mistakes, in love we are to discern the truth of the gift, and lead them to grow in using their gift with integrity.
PURPOSE OF PROPHECY:
The three fundamental functions of prophecies are:
1. Edification - moral improvement (2 Sam 12: 7-14).
Prophecy builds the church, it edifies - that is Pauls hope and intent through the gift of prophecy. Prophets do this by teaching us the truth, calling us to account for the truth - foretelling - giving us hope, forth telling - confronting us. The fruit of prophecy is so that God’s people may be built up.
2. Exhortation - earnest advise/request (Acts 21:10-15, 15:32).
3. Comfort - peace and hope during hopeless situations.
Prophecy can be likened to a vehicle which conveys divine revelation to individuals or to the entire church. Prophecy may not always be that you are going to get a new car or husband; sometimes it is hard because God is trying to get something to you to warn you of upcoming danger in your life.
Prophecy will be rejected, denied by a disobedient heart. Some people will respond to prophecy well, others however throughout scripture will not respond well to the truth - and they painfully reject the prophets, just as they rejected Jeremiah in the OT and Jesus in the NT - the truth on the lips of God’s people is at all times not welcomed by some.
Examples: Acts 13:1-3; 11:27-30, 2Kings 22:14-20
GUIDELINES FOR OPERATING THE GIFT:
If you are a prophet, it is dangerous to feel obligated to perform. Then, many open themselves up to familiar spirits instead of the Spirit of God. Familiar spirits are familiar with people and they communicate with one through whom they operate. The devil knows things, but he is not all-knowing like God. How can you tell the difference:
• No man can say that Jesus is Lord but by the Holy Ghost. The Holy Spirit doesn’t attract attention unto man and make man Lord.
• Does the manifestation bring glory to God?
• Or does it exalt man? Does it attract attention to the human?
1. Be full of the written word - 2Pet. 1:19
2. Be Holy - 2Pet. 1:21
3. Be clothed with humility - 1Pet. 5:5
4. Operate at a level that is parallel to the level of your gift - Rom. 12:6
5. Be sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit - Rev. 1:10
6. Be bold to declare "thus saith the Lord" - 2Cor. 3:17
7. Be prayerful - 1Chr. 16:11
8. Be selfless and consecrated - Jer. 45:5
9. Guard against prophesying lies in the name of the Lord - Jer. 29:21
10. Watch the peril of losing your ministry - Hosea 9:7
CAUTION:
Spiritual gifts could be abused. So, no prophecy of God should run contrary to the scriptures. This is regardless of the level of the one prophesying. For prophecy to be scriptural, it must not run contrary to the written word of God - Isa. 8:20, 1 Cor. 14:29.
Prophecy is imperfect. Paul says it himself in I Corinthians 13:9 "For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears." Prophecy today is not perfect, and so it is appropriate to evaluate the integrity of prophecy.
So my second point here very quickly, and we will look at that more in the future is that the gift of prophesy ought to be tested. I Thessalonians 5:19-22 says
"Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil."
HOW TO ACTIVATE PROPHECY:
Just because God wants it to happen doesn’t happen doesn’t mean its going to happen, you have to prophesy it forward.
Seeing prophecies come to pass in your life depends on your level of obedience to God.
Prophecies can be hindered by the following:
HINDRANCES:
1. Sin - Rom. 6:11, 1Pet. 2:9-11
2. Doubt-James 2:17,18,26
3. Not being sensitive to the Holy Spirit
4. Fear - 1Thessa. 5:20
5. Shyness
6. Self Condemnation
7. Evil Communication - Eph. 4:29,30
8. Anger
9. Gluttony
10. Wrong Company
Everyday until you start seeing breakthrough, speak or prophesy your future as a mouthpiece of God.
Start prophesying your dreams so that you can deliver.
Romans 4:17
God who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did.
Acts 2:18,19 (AMP)
They will prophesy and I will do signs and wonders.
Jeremiah 23:28-29
...but he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully...is not My word like fire says the Lord and like a hammer that breaks in pieces the rock?
God is calling your mouth to ministry. Some of us are so negative and need to stop. Even though you don’t see changes, you need to be and stay positive.
Assignment: For next 30 days, prophesy good for your future or call those prophecies out spoken over you.
Closing: Prayer for salvation and Holy Spirit. Now let’s prophesy your future.
