The Prophet
Notes
Transcript
Today we begin our journey studying the 7 Motivational gifts in detail.
We are going to start with the first one mentioned in Romans 12:6
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
Immediately after the list of gifts Paul gives the church some additional challenges.
There seems to be an easy connection between each of these challenges to the gifts that were just mentioned.
For example we can make an clearly need challenge to the prophet in Romans 12:9
9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
The challenge is to speak with love, without hypocrisy (dissimulation).
To abhor that which is evil
and cleave or cling to that which is good.
A prophet has the motivation and drive to proclaim truth and expose sin.
If a prophet has hypocrisy in their own lives, they would not have peace and freedom to speak the truth boldly.
They are told to abhor that which is evil and cling to that which is good.
This is easy for a person with a motivational gift of prophet.
And helps them to keep a clear conscience as they proclaim the truth to others.
I believe that Peter in the Bible gives us a clear picture of a motivational gift of prophet.
I. Characteristics of a Prophet
I. Characteristics of a Prophet
A. Need to Express Themselves
A. Need to Express Themselves
They often are driven to express their thoughts and ideas verbally, especially when it deals with right and wrong.
They can’t keep it in, it needs to be expressed.
We see Peter many times throughout the gospels speaking up.
He ended up becoming the spokesman for the early church.
Acts 4:8
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
B. Quick Impressions of People
B. Quick Impressions of People
Prophets tend to make quick judgments on what htey see and hear.
Tehy also tend to expres their views before others speak.
In the Gospels, Peter spoke frist more than any other disciple.
28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
Matthew 16:15-16,22
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
C. Alertness to Dishonesty
C. Alertness to Dishonesty
Prophets have a gift to see when someone is not who they say they are.
Discernment is a key character trait of the person who has this motivational gift
They do tend to react very harshly to dishonesty.
Peter sensed deception in Ananias and Sapphira and questioned them about it.
D. Desire for Justice
D. Desire for Justice
Prophets tend to solve a sin problem by cutting it out like a cancer.
The desire is to prevent others from being harmed by the sin, but too often the results are unreconciled people.
Peter desired to cut off his offenders, he is the one who asked Jesus how many times he had to forgive his brother.
21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
E. Open about Their Own Faults
E. Open about Their Own Faults
Prophets can be very transparent about their own faults and failures.
Especially when led by the Holy Spirit, They do not mind being used as an example of the dangers of going the wrong way.
Because they are gifted in seeing circumstances and actions from God’s point of view as revealed by the Word of God, it is no different regarding their own sins.
Peter was quick, when Jesus appeared to him and caused him to catch a great load of fish, to be humbled by Jesus.
Luke 5:8
8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
F. Wholehearted Involvement
F. Wholehearted Involvement
If you can get a prophet committed to something they are all in!
Wholeheartedly involved!
Peter saw Jesus walking on the sea.
He was the only one who asked to join him!
Matthew 14:28
28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
He was all in!
G. Loyalty to Truth vs. People
G. Loyalty to Truth vs. People
Prophets loyalty is to truth over people.
They are quick to sever ties with people who are not with the truth.
But at the same time, if you are speaking truth and are on the side of truth they are wiht you until the end!
Peter said he would stay with Jesus because he had the words of eternal ilife.
John 6:66-69
66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
H. Willingness to Suffer for Right
H. Willingness to Suffer for Right
a Person with the motivational gift of prophet, recognizes that truth is more important than comfort.
They are willing to suffer if it means standing with truth.
Peter rejoiced that he was counted worthy to suffer shame for Jesus when he was beaten for proclaiming the truth of the gospel!
Acts 5:29-42
Acts 5:29,40-42
29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
I. Persuasive in Defining Truth
I. Persuasive in Defining Truth
Those with the motivational gift of prophet, not only have a special ability to apply scripture, and use it, but they also have a special knack at expressing it clearly and persuasively.
The day of Pentecost was a great example of this.
Peter, a fisherman not an orator, proclaimed the truth clearly and precisely.
Acts 2:23
23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
But just as there are distinct Characteristics of the motivational gifts of the Spirit, there are also some distinct misuses of the gifts as well.
The difference is seen when you are yielded to the Holy Spirit, or not.
II. Misuses of the Gift of Prophet
II. Misuses of the Gift of Prophet
A. Exposing without Restoring
A. Exposing without Restoring
Galatians 6:1
1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
We, as God’s children, are called to restore each other to fellowship with Christ!
Because the natural tendency of the prophet is to expose sin, they are often more interested in the separation or cutting out than the healing.
However it is true that exposure is the first step to restoration!
B. Jumping to Conclusions
B. Jumping to Conclusions
Because a person with the motivational gift of prophet can make quick impressions of people, they often when acting in the flesh, can jump to a conclusion before having all of the information.
Speaking to lady - trying to tell a story - “Oh that’s because...” - that wasn’t the point of the story...
Once a conclusion is made, evidence then begins to be gathered to prove their conclusion.
This results sometimes in taking words and actions of the accused out of context in order to prove the point.
C. Reacting Harshly to Sinners
C. Reacting Harshly to Sinners
The drive in a person with a motivational gift of prophecy is to expose sin, and if they are not yielded to the Holy Spirit, not only to see the wrong, but also how God wants us to deal with that wrong.
They can tend to denounce sin so strongly that appears to be over kill to others.
The prophet, once sin has been exposed, wants to see immediate repentance and if that is not seen, they are cut off.
This is why a caution is given to prophets in
9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
Love must be present.
D. Being Unforgiving
D. Being Unforgiving
It is not easy for the prophet to distinguish between the sin and the sinner.
But there needs to be a balance.
And a spirit filled (controlled) person will see the fruit of the Spirit in their lives, including love!
Peter’s epistles are a great balance of both love and truth!
21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
E. Condemning Themselves
E. Condemning Themselves
Just as the prophet is open about their own faults, the flip side of being able to identify sin and apply scripture is the ease of which that falls into condemning yourself.
Many prophets that I know are very harsh on themselves.
It becomes easy to wallow in defeat when they do not act yielded to the Holy Spirit.
Jesus knew that after Peter had failed Jesus by denying him three times that he would need extra reassurance.
7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
Why did Jesus single Peter out?
I believe it was because He knew that Peter would need to be told directly.
When the ladies came back from the empty tomb and told the disciples and Peter, Peter and John ran to hte tomb.
John out ran Peter
4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
I think it is a testament to the great love John had for Jesus, but I also think it may have been a testimony to the hesitancy Peter had in facing Jesus again after he failed Him.
Then there on the beach eating breakfast with Jesus, Jesus three times confirms that Peter loves him
John 21:15
15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
Did Jesus know whether or not Peter truly loved Him?
of course He knew!
He wanted Peter to know!
F. Being Impetuous
F. Being Impetuous
Because prophets can make quick decisions, sometimes when not lead by the Holy Spirit they can make hasty bad decisions.
Peter refused to allow Jesus to wash his feet, then asked Jesus to wash his whole body.
Not understanding what it was that Jesus was trying to teach them.
John 13:6-10
6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
G. Cutting Off People Who Fail
G. Cutting Off People Who Fail
When a prophet sees or hears something that is wrong, they feel responsible to speak out against it.
And often the result can be separation rather than reconciliation
There have been times when I realized it had to be my responsibility to reconcile with a prophet
H. Lacking Tactfulness in Rebuke
H. Lacking Tactfulness in Rebuke
Peter actually rebuked Jesus for telling the disciples of His death.
Mark 8:31-33
31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
32 And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.
33 But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.
I’ve been told “I just don’t have tact.”
The truth is when we are lead by the Holy Spirit, we are prevented from speaking sometimes!
Acts 16:6
6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
At other times we are urged to speak, but are given the words.
Luke 12:11-12
11 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.
I. Dwelling on the Negative
I. Dwelling on the Negative
Prophets tend to divide everything int o two classes - right or wrong
Black or white
Once they label a person or activity, that judgment tends to be fixed in their minds.
They often feel compelled to persuade others to agree with them.
I know a pastor who is death on having screens int he church.
This dates back to the 90s when technology was starting to be used int he church.
And the more liberal churches, who had more money, became known for utilizing screens and technology in their church.
This well known pastor still to this day doesn’t like even preaching in churches that have screens.
Whatever your preference is, we can’t stick so firm on a preference that we miss a whole lot of other verses about kindness, love, longsuffering, edification, etc.
We have 6 other gifts to go!
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