A) Intro: Tonight we are continuing our study on the gifts of the H.S. focusing on those
listed here in 1Cor. 12
B)
We
have looked at the first 5 of the Gifts listed in v. 8-10 / Wisdom / Knowledge
/ Faith / healings & miracles
C) Tonight we are going to pick up our study starting w/ PROPHESY/ Rdv.8-11
Now when we hear the Word Prophecy we immediately think of
the predicting of future events FORETELLING OF THE FUTURE
A) And that is how Prophesy is predominantly seen in the O.T.
B)
Men
were moved by the Lord to predict future events
– to a large extent the prophesies dealt w/ the coming of Jesus Christ
C) But many times
the Lord raised up a prophet to prophesy concerning the Judgment of God that
was to come upon the nation of Israel unless they repented
&
Heb 1:1 In
the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in
various ways (NIV)
&
2 Pet 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the
will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved
D)
Men like Moses & David were used in this area of
Prophecy / not primary calling -
1)
Moses in Deut.
32 foretells the events that
would take place AFTER Israel entered the promised land.
E) He tells of how they would turn away from God and be scattered
among the nations.
NOTE: The people memorized this song. They grew
up singing this song.
And though they knew & sang it
often they fell in the very things that
the song warned
of.
F) It was when they were
singing this song in captivity that they realized the reason for their captivity.
&
Acts 2:30-31 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing
that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins,
according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He
seeing this before spoke of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not
left in hell, neither did his flesh see corruption.
Many of David’s psalms are predictive in nature and
content. Many are messianic..... that is, they deal
with the coming Messiah.
So Moses & David were men who moved in the Prophetic
ministry although though that wasn’t their primary ministry
A) Where as others like Samuel
/ Elijah / Elisha / Isa. Jer. / Hosea
were called by God to be PROPHETS OF GOD / Very Predictive in ministry
B) But PROPHECY IS MORE THAN
THE FORETELLING OF FUTURE EVENTS
1)
It
is also the Forth telling of the mind,
heart & word of God to His people
C) The word PROPHECY
derives from a Greek root which means "to cause to
shine," & is linked with the prefix "pro" which means "before."
1) So a person w/ the gift of
prophecy is one who stands before God’s people
and causes the word of God to shine./ Heart REVEALED
Prophesy is the
gift of declaring truth basically it is
the gift of
expounding
Scripture, making Scripture come alive.
A)This speaking forth the mind of God was also seen
clearly in the O.T. in the Prophetic ministry of men like Isa. / Jer. Hosea
B) Men Who repeatedly were used to call the People to REPENTENCE
C)Although a large part of the ministry of the O.T.
prophets was the foretelling of future events –
1)
The
Judgment upon Israel that would come if they didn’t repent as well as some
other nations as well & The 1st & 2nd comings of
J.C.
Now in the N.T. we have a reversal of this order / where the
O.T. prophesies were more fore telling than forth telling
A) N.T. is the opposite – More Forth telling
– or
speaking forth the mind & heart of God than it is the predicting of future
events
B) Although there are those who
predicted in the NT / Agabus is mentioned in Acts 11:28
28 Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the
Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world,
which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar.
Acts 21: 10 And
as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
11 When he had
come to us, he took Paul's belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said,
"Thus says the Holy Spirit, 'So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man
who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'"
B) The Apostle John moved in
that predictive aspect when he penned the book of Rev. – but those are about
the only records
C) What we see
instead are men & women who were used to declare God’s truth & expound
God’s word –
1) cause it to shine so that people
understood.- Their ministry was more
of a GUIDING MINISTRY THAN A PREDICTIVE
D) Take the vision & Run w/
it !!!!!
3 But he who
prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
EXHORTATION = parakaleo - ( PARACLETE ) primarily, "to call to ones side to help/ to admonish / to urge one to pursue some course of conduct
COMFORT – similar word derived from
the same grk word – Paraklesis = one called to one side.
A) Important
to note this that the word of Prophecy is going to be like that a person who
comes to the aid of another – in perfect time of need.
1)
Out
of gas on the side of the road & some one pulls up just at the right time –
give you a lift
B)
That
word of PROPHECY works in much the same way –
You come to a Bible study – out of gas – worn out / defeated
1)
And
what is taught is exactly what you needed – filling up the tank
C)
Or
your talking w/ a friend & they share a verse w/ you – EXACTLY WHAT YOU
NEEDED – ( read your mind)
1)
Sunday
nights / RETREAT – scriptures shared – word of Prophesy – Someone needed to
hear exactly that verse / cards / notes / e-mail
D)
Sometimes - prophecy gets a bad rap -by those who - hyper spiritual - talk king James - Oh my people - thou hast
corrupted thy ways …..
1) I have a problem w/ that for
a couple of reasons - one you don’t see that in Scripture - in the N.T.
D) 2nd Paul says in 1Cor. 14:3 that he who prophecies speaks
edification / exhortation & comfort to men .
1) In other words prophecy is
that which is meant to encourage / build up / and comfort the body !
When you prophesy you
are speaking FOR God to the Church to edify..... you are building up your brothers and sisters.
When you prophesy you
are speaking FOR God to the Church, you are encouraging people to
trust the Lord and lay hold of the promises of God.
When you prophesy you
are speaking FOR God to the Church, you are exhorting people to
ACTION. Exhorting to praise and prayer and service.
When you prophesy
you are speaking FOR God to the Church, you are comforting
others. The Holy S. works through you to minister comfort to us.
The last thing we
want to note is the VALIDATION OF A
PROPHECY
1Cor.14:29 Let two or
three prophets speak, and let the others judge.
1.) Does it line up with the
revealed Word of God?/ God will NOT
say something CONTRARY to the Written Word of God.
IF it is contrary to the Written Word of God, THEN
it is NOT prophecy.
2.) Does it line up
with the FACTS concerning the NATURE of the GIFT ie – EDIFICATION /
EXHORTATION & COMFORT
A) If a PERSON PROPHESIES & IT does NOT line up with the facts then it can NOT be God,
3.) If it is predictive in nature,
then you look to see if it comes to pass.
In this area of Judging the Prophesies – the next gift
mentioned comes into play – DISCERNING OF SPIRITS
A) It is significant that this gift is listed
immediately following the gift of prophecy. In this We see God’s Divine order.
C) Because although there have been
those Throughout history, who have been prophets & have brought forth the
Word of God to God’s people.
1) There has also always been FALSE prophets
D) For that REASON
It is CRUCIAL to have this gift in order to discern truth from lies, the
Holy Spirit from demonic spirits,
1)
because Satan is an extremely good
counterfeiter.
E)
Jesus
specifically warned in the Last days of false Christ & false prophets who
would come on the scene
&Mat 7:15
Beware of false prophets, which come to
you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
& Mat 24:24
For there shall arise false Christs, and
false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it
were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
&
1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits
whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the
world.
TRY = to test (lit. or fig.); to approve,
discern, examine.
So we have this NEED for the gift of the discerning of spirits.
A)This gift is often seen in Conjunction
w/ the gifts of Word of Wisdom / Knowledge / Prophecy & the INTERPETATION
OF TONGUES
In The Life Of Peter
Acts 5:1-2 Ananias & Saphira – Peter had discernment they were lying
C)They came with the FALSE PRETENSE that they were
giving ALL of the price that they had received.
1)
Peter
discerned the
lie that he was seeking to perpetrate against the Church in trying to appear as
having surrendered all.
B)
Word of Knowledge w/ the Gift of
Discernment
C)
Acts
8 Simon False conversion/ wants to buy the gift – Peter again
22 "Repent therefore of this your
wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven
you.
23"For I perceive that you are poisoned by bitterness
& bound by iniquity."
D)
Perceive
= to stare at – to DISCERN CLEARLY
People w/ this gift are those who might sense there is
something not right w/ someone when everyone else is gung ho
A)
Had
this happen many times – everyone was so excited about a certain minister or
musician etc. ( I would be leery ) couldn’t get excited
B) I would feel horrible – So negative – After time
something revealed
C)This gift is
essential for those who are involved in Leadership in ministry/ if you don’t
have it – pray
Don’t receive it make sure you are linked up w/ someone who does