The Spirit of the Prophets

You are here today because you are following a biblical mandate.

1 Corinthians 12:31 KJV 1900

But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

1 Corinthians 14:1 KJV 1900

Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

Covet and Desire - Normally, when talking about worldly things coveting and deep desire are bad. Thou shall not covet and Do not love the world. But as said, that when regarding worldly things. But when it comes to spiritual things, like the gifts of the holy Spirit and his power, we are told, no command to covet them, to desire them.

Genesis 32:26 KJV 1900

And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

But its not Just God giving you, its your response of faith to what his Word says.

James 1:6 KJV 1900

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

Today some of you will come face to face with a biblical battle that all christians must fight. You will have to make a choice between who you listen too. There will be 2 voices. The Spirit and the Flesh. The Spirit, through God’s word will say one thing, and the flesh, through pride will say the opposite.

Galatians 5:17 KJV 1900

For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

What do I mean? Well you will ask God to baptise you with the holy Spirit. And since we have God’s total guarantee that He will give us His Spirit, you will receive it by Faith. Then because the bible makes it very clear that every-time a person is baptised in the holy Spirit they speak in tongues, the Spirit will give you utterance.

But while this is happening in the Spirit, the flesh will also be busy. You flesh will tell you that this is stupid, that you are crazy, that you are embarrassing yourself and making a fool of yourself.

The Spirit will say Speak, the flesh will say Dont.

What one needs is Faith.

Romans 10:17 KJV 1900

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

So lets read Scripture:

1 Corinthians 14:1–5 KJV 1900

1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. 2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. 3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. 5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

3 Things are spoken about:

1: Tongues - Speaker speaks directly to God. Edifies oneself. God;s desire is for all to speak in tongues.

2: Prophecy - Greater than tongues, except when coupled with Interpretation. Speak to church to edify them, exhort them and comfort them.

1 Corinthians 14:6–18 KJV 1900

6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? 7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? 8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? 9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. 10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. 11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. 12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. 13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. 16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? 17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. 18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

1: tongues is not mumbling or random sounds, it is a language with distinction ie words, but if you dont know the language it will sound like mumbojumbo.

Video of lauanges - 7000 human laungegeus.

2: When you speak in tongues you should also seek God for the gift of interpretation. Because you will be edified by praying in tongues and you will build up your faith which is great, for you in your personal spiritual life but if would be amazing if you could also encourage the which church in our corporate meetings.

Jude 20 KJV 1900

20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

1 Corinthians 14:20–25 KJV 1900

20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. 21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. 22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. 23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? 24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: 25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

1: Tongues are also a sign for unbelievers, whereas prophecy, or tongues with interpretation is a sign for the church.

1 Corinthians 14:26–40 KJV 1900

26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. 27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. 28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. 29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. 31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. 35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. 36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? 37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. 38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. 39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. 40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

God is a God of order not chaos. And the excise of gifts must not make corporate meetings into circuses.

If folk feel led to pray in tongues it should never exceed 3 people - and it should only ever be done if the gift of interpretation is also present.

And if Folks speak in tongues, interpret or prophecy, each one must be done in orderly succession, not in shouting over each other.

Finally, we must not forbid people to speak in tongues. we must encourage it. But if people choose to remain ignorant of this blessing, let them remain ignorant. Its not something to fight over.

Practical How to:

1: Ask the Lord to fill you and baptise you with the Holy Spirit. - the answer will be yes.

2: Then, like Peter, step out of the boat. Take a breath, open your mouth and use the mechanisms of speech until you speak. The sounds that will come out of your mouth will either be the tongues of angels or any one of the 7000 tongues of man - but given the context here today, i would wager it will be that of angels.

The only way to fail - is not to speak.

Now let me remind you of the conflict you will experience. Your flesh is gonna put up some fight. but i will tell you, not to stop - as you speak, you will be building up your faith, right, and your faith will begin to increase straight away, and after a few moments the flesh will set softer, after a minute it is get even softer and after 2 minutes it will be a distant echo and after 5 minutes you will have victory.

1 Timothy 4:14 KJV 1900

14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.