Sermon # 28 - Discerning Prophecies Series

We read in Jonah 3:3-4, “So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of Jehovah. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city, of three days' journey. And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.” (ERV)

When God sent Jonah, He gave him a word of warning which he was to convey to the people of Nineveh. Remember that our God is a loving God who is also extremely patient with human beings. God’s will as He sent Jonah on this mission was that the people of Nineveh should not perish because of their sin and wickedness. God wanted to give the people of Nineveh an opportunity to repent, receive God’s mercy, and thereby escape the impending destruction that was due them.

We read in 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow to do what he has promised, as some think. Instead, he is patient with you, because he does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants all to turn away from their sins.” (GNB)

As those who live on this earth, we commit so many sins, wrong-doings and have numerous faults. It is God’s will that none of us should perish in our sins, and He therefore gives us many opportunities to repent, and change our ways.

Strangely, when Jonah went to preach against Nineveh, his desire was that after he had preached to the city of Nineveh, that God would destroy them. In a way what Jonah told the people of Nineveh was also prophetic, in that he foretold them of the impending doom that awaited them if they did not repent.

We live in days when there are many who are prophesying in the name of the Lord. Since we too are constantly hearing many prophecies, let us try to understand what the word of God has to teach us about the same. As we meditate on this, I am certain the Lord will certainly speak to us.

1. Do not treat prophecies with contempt

We read in 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21,“And don’t be one who scorns prophecies, but be faithful to examine them by putting them to the test, and afterward hold tightly to what has proven to be right.”(TPT)

The bible teaches us that we should not treat prophecies with disrespect. When one disregards a prophet, they will also scorn their prophecies. Some of the ways that one can show contempt is when they decry the prophecy, or when they show disdain to the prophet himself.

Let me explain this with an incident from the bible.

We read in 1 Kings 13:4, “And it came to pass, when the king heard the saying of the man of God, which he cried against the altar in Beth-el, that Jeroboam put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not draw it back again to him.” (ERV)

King Jeroboam did many things that displeased the Lord, and the prophet of God was sent to confront the king. As the prophet spoke against the altar that King Jeroboam had set up in Bethel, the king in his rage put forth his hand, ordering that they lay hold of the prophet of God. Obviously as the king stood near that altar there must have been a huge crowd that was gathered there as well. When the king stretched out his hand against the prophet, his hand was paralyzed, and he could not draw it back again. Here was a king who not only disrespected the prophet of God, but also wanted to cause him harm. Generally, when a king pointed his hand at someone, it meant that the person could not escape the harm intended for them. However, when this king, stretched out his hand in anger against the prophet of the King of Kings, he got the punishment that was duly his.

The word of God in 1 Thessalonians 5:20 is forthright that one should not treat prophecies with disdain. We therefore understand that prophecies are still relevant for those of us who are believers in the New Testament as well. This goes against the grain of many who think and teach that the time of prophecies are all over, and done with.

We also read in 1 Corinthians 14:4, “The one who speaks in an unknown language is edifying only himself; but the one who prophesies is edifying the church.” (AFV)

From the above mentioned verse we understand that when one prophecies, he or she is edifying the church. If Paul wrote this to the church at Corinth, we perceive that this is applicable for the church of today as well.