A Primer on Prophecy

Introduction

Last week, we considered the subject of Tonuges, and I spoke about its relevance, and how it is the symbol of God’s intention to redeem mankind. In the tower of Babel, God scattered the people with the judgment of tongues, and now he gifts his disciples to reach the ends of the earth to all people from every nation, tribe & ‘tongue’.

I suppose that the greater tension among reformed charismatics is reconciling if the gift of tongues refers only to other earthly languages, or also to heavenly languages that no one understands except the Spirit of God.

But in these last few weeks we have dived deep into the differences between the tongues we see in Acts 2 and that which we see in 1 Corinthians 12-14, which is significant enough to suggest that the predominant use of tongues were heavenly languages.

As I mentioned in one of the previous sermons, Reformed Charismatics believe that every gift has a specific function in the life of the church which is also subject to the times that we live in. It is entirely possible for the use and intensity of a particular gift to reduce during a certain period of time, and for a gift to intensify for a certain period of time.

[Example - the tongues of Acts 2]

Again, these gifts are grace-gifts (charisma), tools wielded by the Christian, according to the direction of the Holy Spirit. We do not set our hope on them, we set our hope on Christ. Our salvation does not depend on them.

What of Prophecy?

But now, what of prophecy? What are we to make of the other most controversial of the Spiritual Gifts?

Whether tongues or prophecy, the large part of conservative theologians around the world are worried about the message these gifts carry, and how it might compromise the word of God.

So, consider this sermon - a primer on prophecy. But a sound understanding of prophecy has to keep the sovereignty of God at the centre of it all. We will dive deep into the specifics of the gift itself next week, but I want to address the subject of the God who is in our midst before we do that.

A lot of the fears, doubts, & even false notions regarding prophecy arise from a failure to recognise this reality. In 1 Corinthians 14:32

1 Corinthians 14:32 ESV

32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.

This means that the one who prophesies is held accountable for his prophecy. This is not a gift to be handled with carelessness. In the OT, death was the punishment of false prophesying.

Beloved, if the Sovereignty of God is priced and proclaimed among the saints of the church, and then we desired and practiced prophecy, we are of all the saints most secured in truth.

And just as we considered the difference in the tongues of Acts 2 and 1 Corinthians 12-14, next week in our deep-dive, we will consider the prophecy of the OT & the NT.

But for now, let us consider the Sovereignty of God.

There’s a lot that we have learned about prophecy already.

It is the gift of communicating divine revelation

It is the higher gift for it benefits the whole church, and builds up the saints

It convicts the unbeliever of the presence of God in their midst [emphasise]

We are to earnestly desire above all that we may prophecy

Psalm 139

This is one of my favourite Psalms, and I have preached from it once before for a women’s meet a long time ago, but I wish to bring your attention church, to this Psalm. This Psalm is a psalm of King David.

Psalm 139:1–6 ESV

1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me! 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. 3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. 5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.

Do not miss, my friends, the splendid start to this great song. We live in a world where we are in search to know and find those that are famed and great in this world. Some of us spend hours pouring over the news of those we admire, those whom we consider our heroes.

Yet, here we have the picture of the greatest One, whose fame is unparalleled, and his power unsearchable, searching me and knowing me.

When the Bible speaks of God’s knowledge, it does not mean that God has the information written on

David cried elsewhere in Psalm 8:4

Psalm 8:4 ESV

4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

This isn’t just a reference to God taking note of us, but a reference to God being invested in us. To the effect that he knows when we sit and rise up.