The Spiritual Gift of Prophecy (Part 3)

Memorial Drive 6/28/20 THE SPIRTUAL GIFT OF PROPHECY (Part 3) Various Texts "For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills." (I Corinthians 12:8-11) PROPHECY IS JUST ONE OF SEVERAL REVELATORY GIFTS AND IT IS DIFFERENT FROM TEACHING ... Closely related to "word of wisdom", "word of knowledge" and interpreted tongues None are authoritative and on a par with Scriptural revelation It's different from the spiritual gift of teaching Church leadership after the apostles is entrusted to "elders" able to "teach" It's not PROPHETS who lead through special revelations, but ELDERS who provide the primary leadership through careful and able instruction in the Word! NEW TESTAMENT PROPHECIES ARE ONE MEANS THAT GOD USES TO BUILD UP, EXHORT, AND CONSOLE HIS PEOPLE ... "But ONE WHO PROPHESIES speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation." (I Cor. 14:3) NEW TESTAMENT PROPHECIES ARE THE REPORTING IN ONE'S OWN WORDS OF SOMETHING THAT GOD HAS REVEALED & SPONTANEOUSLY BROUGHT TO MIND ... "Human reporting" implies a willing to LISTEN and to REPORT The "report" is referred to as a "revelation" "Let two or three PROPHETS speak, and let the others pass judgment. But if a REVELATION is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent." (I Cor. 14:29-30) The prophecy is something God has spontaneously brought to mind relative to a particular situation N.T. PROPHETIC UTTERANCES CAN INCLUDE ANY EDIFYING CONTENT ... It might be a "foretelling" of something in the future (Acts 11:28) It might be God's means of revealing sins present in the church gathering "But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you." (I Cor. 14:25) (Note three powerful results!) Conviction and repentance takes place God is powerfully glorified His power and presence is radically affirmed Prophecy is simply a reflection of God's willingness to speak to specific needs of people's hearts in a very direct and spontaneous way, never contrary to Scripture, ut in addition to what He has already revealed in His Word. NEW TESTAMENT PROPHETIC UTTERANCES MAY CONTAIN ERRORS ... God never lies! Numbers 23:19 ... And neither does His Spirit We have to distinguish between what God has REVEALED, what man REPORTS, and how the listeners RESPOND! Acts 21 - Agabus prophecies a REVELATION by the Spirit, his REPORT is accurate as to the outcome but not in all the details, and the RESPONSE was not God's intent The REVELATION was infallible, but the REPORT and the RESPONSE contained error! Instruction on handling prophetic words shows the possibility of error "Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil." (I Thess. 5:19-21) A Few Relevant Questions ... * IF PROPHECIES CAN CONTAIN ERROR, WHAT HELP ARE THEY? Because sin and human fallibility are a reality, should we "toss" all of the gifts? If not, why prophecy? * WHAT DOES PROPHECY LOOK LIKE IN PRACTICE? Prophetic words and their impact on 300 youth and a chastened theologian A I Corinthians 14 "look-alike" in an Atlanta E. Free Church God powerfully frees a woman through a "prophetic" "word of knowledge" God's Spirit powerfully ministers through two church elders in Oklahoma City A world-renowned preacher who spoke little of spiritual gifts exercises the N.T. spiritual gift of prophecy * WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? (Five Reasons) o We're commanded to earnestly desire the gifts, especially to prophesy! o We're specifically commanded NOT to "despise prophetic utterances." o It's part of God's "Toolbelt for Growth" for His church and a means of His equipping His people to dispense His "grace for growth." o Through prophetic words God can and does sometimes does what He cannot do only through Scripture: Give specific encouragement, direction, and guidance in the midst of specific situations in our lives. o Experiencing God's compassion and concern for us as expressed through prophetic words can rescue us from dead orthodoxy and enliven us to the presence and power of God's Spirit in our world and our lives. *Recommended for further study ... Jon Bloom, Desiring God Ministries, 4 part series on prophecy 2