HANDLING PROPHECY

MEMORY VERSE: Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD. Jeremiah 23:16

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Numbers 1-4

Who is a prophet? A prophet is someone, actually a mature believer, who speaks the mind of God, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The use of the word ‘mature’ is deliberate. The ministry of prophet is listed as one of the offices to be used to bring the church to maturity. A true prophet will speak out against things that are wrong, whether it makes him unpopular or not. He will draw people to God and not himself. The enemy has counterfeits of all the true gifts, and there are plenty of false prophets in the world. A false prophet is a dangerous person, as he will use his supposed authority to gain wrong influence over people, and keep them in bondage to himself through fear. Jeremiah 23:16 says, “Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.” The deceiving prophet will not warn the people to turn from that which is wrong (Jeremiah 23:17-22), and usually immorality springs up where there is false prophecy. The deceiving prophet or false prophet will never talk about holiness or godliness.

We should be careful of personal, directive prophecy, especially outside the ministry of a mature and submitted man of God. Extreme caution should be used in receiving any alleged directive or predictive prophecy. Please don’t undertake any project simply because you were told to or by presumed prophetic utterances or interpretation of tongues, or by a presumed word of wisdom, or knowledge. Never do something just because a friend comes to you and says: “The Lord told me to tell you to do thus and thus!” If the Lord has instructions for you, He will give you a witness in your own heart, in which case the words coming from a friend, or through the gifts of the Holy Spirit in a meeting, will be confirmation to what God has already shown you. Your guidance must also agree with scripture. 2 Peter 1:19 says, “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.” The save rule is never proceed until you get confirmation. 2 Corinthians 13:1 says, “This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.” The written Word of God is our guidebook, which we must study well, and is the test of all spoken words. Note the caution of the prophet Jeremiah. He was told by the Lord to buy a piece of property from his cousin Hanameel. He took no action, however, until his cousin came and offered to sell him the property, having no idea what the Lord had already said to Jeremiah. ‘Then’ said Jeremiah, “I knew it was the word of the Lord”. If the prophet Jeremiah, that great man of God, was so cautious, not even believing his own prophecy until it was confirmed, we should be all the more ( Jeremiah 32:6-9). Prophecy is different from inspired preaching. Although preaching is inspired by the Holy Spirit, but in preaching, the intellect, training, skill, background, and education are involved and inspired by the Holy Spirit. Prophecy on the other hand means that the person is bringing the words the Lord gives directly; it is from the spirit, not the intellect.

NOTE: The written Word of God is our guidebook, which we must study well, and it is the test of all spoken words including prophecy.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world