Year of the Holy Spirit: Prophecy week 2

10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

(1)Prophecy is not fortune telling.

there is a directional aspect to prophecy.

Acts 11:27–30 NKJV

27 And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. 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. 29 Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. 30 This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

notice this is not Paul and Barnabas are going to get new donkeys (would have ben that days equivalent of a new car).

notice that it was to sustain the ministry of the gospel.

Acts 21:1–14 NKJV

1 Now it came to pass, that when we had departed from them and set sail, running a straight course we came to Cos, the following day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 2 And finding a ship sailing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. 3 When we had sighted Cyprus, we passed it on the left, sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload her cargo. 4 And finding disciples, we stayed there seven days. They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem. 5 When we had come to the end of those days, we departed and went on our way; and they all accompanied us, with wives and children, till we were out of the city. And we knelt down on the shore and prayed. 6 When we had taken our leave of one another, we boarded the ship, and they returned home. 7 And when we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, greeted the brethren, and stayed with them one day. 8 On the next day we who were Paul’s companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied. 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.’ ” 12 Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.”

why would the Holy Spirit send a prophecy concerning the Apostle Paul’s death?

1 Corinthians 14:3 NKJV

3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.

To understand why God would foretell the Death of the Apostle Paul we have to look at the purpose of prophecy:

Edification

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 74.13 ἄθλησις, εως

ιςb, εως f: a test of someone’s capability to resist or to respond to some difficulty—‘challenge.’ πολλὴν ἄθλησιν ὑπεμείνατε παθημάτων ‘in your sufferings you stood up to the great challenge’ He 10:32. For another interpretation of ἄθλησις in He 10:32, see 50.3.

74.14 σθενόω: to cause someone to be or to become more able or capable, with the implication of a contrast with weakness—‘to make more able, to strengthen.’ αὐτὸς καταρτίσει, στηρίξει, σθενώσει ‘he will restore, strengthen, and make (you) stronger’ 1 Pe 5:10. The terms στηρίζω (see 74.19) and σθενόω in 1 Pe 5:10 are very similar in meaning and serve primarily to intensify the meaning of making persons more able to engage in or to undergo certain experiences.

74.15 οἰκοδομέωb; ἐποικοδομέωb; οἰκοδομήc, ῆς f: to increase the potential of someone or something, with focus upon the process involved—‘to strengthen, to make more able, to build up.’

οἰκοδομέωb: οἰκοδομουμένη καὶ πορευομένη τῷ φόβῳ τοῦ κυρίου ‘built up and living in reverence for the Lord’ Ac 9:31.

ἐποικοδομέωb: ἐποικοδομοῦντες ἑαυτοὺς τῇ ἁγιωτάτῃ ὑμῶν πίστει ‘build yourselves up on your most holy faith’ or ‘… by means of your most holy faith’ Jd 20.

οἰκοδομήc: κατὰ τὴν ἐξουσίαν ἣν ὁ κύριος ἔδωκέν μοι, εἰς οἰκοδομὴν καὶ οὐκ εἰς καθαίρεσιν ‘according to the authority which the Lord has given me to build you up, not to tear you down’ or ‘… to strengthen and not to weaken’ 2 Cor 13:10.

Hebrews 10:32 NKJV

32 But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings:

1 Peter 5:10 NKJV

10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

Acts 9:31 NKJV

31 Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.

2 Corinthians 13:10 NKJV

10 Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction.

Exhortation

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 25.150 παρακαλέω; παράκλησις, εως

25.150 παρακαλέωd; παράκλησιςa, εως f: to cause someone to be encouraged or consoled, either by verbal or non-verbal means—‘to encourage, to console, encouragement.’

παρακαλέωd: ἵνα γνῶτε τὰ περὶ ἡμῶν καὶ παρακαλέσῃ τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν ‘that you may know how we are and that he may encourage you’ Eph 6:22.

παράκλησιςa: εἴ τίς ἐστιν ἐν ὑμῖν λόγος παρακλήσεως πρὸς τὸν λαόν ‘if you have any message of encouragement for the people’ Ac 13:15; εἴ τις οὖν παράκλησις ἐν Χριστῷ ‘if then there is any encouragement in Christ’ Php 2:1.

Ephesians 6:22 NKJV

22 whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs, and that he may comfort your hearts.

Acts 13:15 NKJV

15 And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.”

Philippians 2:1 NKJV

1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,

Comfort

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 25.154 παραμύθιον, ου; παραμυθία, ας

25.154 παραμύθιον, ου n; παραμυθία, ας f: (derivatives of παραμυθέομαι ‘to comfort,’ 25.153) that which causes or constitutes the basis for consolation and encouragement—‘consolation, encouragement.’

παραμύθιον: εἴ τι παραμύθιον ἀγάπης ‘if there is any consolation of love’ or ‘if his love consoles you’ or ‘… encourages you’ Php 2:1.

παραμυθία: ὁ δὲ προφητεύων ἀνθρώποις λαλεῖ οἰκοδομὴν καὶ παράκλησιν καὶ παραμυθίαν ‘the one who declares God’s message to people speaks of that which builds up and encourages and consoles’ 1 Cor 14:3.

(2) Prophecy Points to Jesus

Revelation 19:10 NKJV

10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

(3) Revealing secrets

The New King James Version Chapter 14

24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. 25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.

Desiring God articles "what does modern-day prophecy look like today?"

On the 34th floor OCTOBER 1, 2018

When John Piper is about to preach, he says he frequently prays something like, “Lord bring to my mind truth about yourself about this text about this people that I will be able to say in such a way that they will pierce with unusual-I might say prophetic-power in their lives.” One Sunday, while preaching, he was encouraging the people of Bethlehem Baptist to be involved in small groups and start evangelistic Bible studies. At one point he said, “you might be working on the 34th floor of the IDS tower, and maybe you should call your people together down a small group meeting.” After the service a woman who had been sitting in the area where he looked, came up to him and said, “why did you say that? I work on the 34th floor of the IDS tower, and I’ve been praying about whether to start a small group.”

He Is Soul for Fourpence

here’s a similar example that gives even more specific. Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) once shared this remarkable story:

While preaching in the hall, on one occasion, I deliberately pointed to a man in the midst of the crowd, and said, “there’s a man sitting there, who is a shoemaker; he keeps his shop open on Sundays, it was open last Sabbath morning, and he took nine pence and there was a fourpence profit out of it; his soul is soul to Satan for fourpence!”

A city missionary, when going his rounds met this man, and seeing that he was reading one of my sermons, he asked the question, “you know Mr. Spurgeon?” “Yes, replied the man, “I have every reason to know him, I’ve been to hear him; and, under his preaching, by God’s grace I become a new creature in Christ Jesus. Shall I tell you how it happened? I went to the music Hall, and took my seat in the middle of the place; mister. Spurgeon looked at me as if he knew me, and his sermon he pointed to me, and told the congregation that I was a shoemaker, and that I kept my shop open on Sundays; and I did, sir. I should not my did that; but he also said that I took nine pence the Sunday before, and there was a fourpence profit out of it. I did take nine pence that day, and fourpence was the profit; but how should he know that, I could not tell. Then it struck me that it was God doing spoken to my soul through him, so I shut up my shop the next Sunday. At first, I was afraid to go hear him again, lest he should tell people more about me; but afterwards I went, and the Lord met me and save my soul.”

Secrets of the heart

Here’s one example of this “secret disclosing” sort of prophecy, but in a more personal context. John Wimber (1934-1997), one of the formative levers of Vineyard church planting movement, describe the experience he had on a flight from Chicago to New York. Shortly after takeoff, he carefully glanced across the aisle and was started by seeing the word “adultery” in clear letters across the face of a middle-aged businessman seated across from him.

The man saw John looking at him oddly and snapped, “what do you want?” As the man spoke, a woman’s name came clearly to John’s mind. So John cautiously said, “does the name [blank] mean anything to you?” The man went pale (his wife was sitting next to him). The man responded, “we need to talk.”

They moved to the Plains lounge where the men confessed to having an affair with a woman whose name and come to John’s mind. John ended up leaving the man to Christ, and then the men returned the receipt, confessed to his wife, and made her Christ. (Power evangelism, 74-76).