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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CONCERNING SPIRITUAL GIFTS: A MINISTRY IN PROPHECY.

MEMORY VERSE: Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying. Jeremiah 1:4

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: John 5-6

We recently looked at the Gift of Prophecy, one of the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit, which can be manifested in the life of any believer. The gift of prophecy is manifested when believers speak the mind of God, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and not from their thoughts. The fact that this gift is manifested in the life of an individual does not mean the individual is automatically a prophet, NO! As far as one has given his life to Christ, one may manifest any of the seven gifts of Holy Spirit – ‘Word of Wisdom’, ‘Word of Knowledge’, Gift of Faith, Gifts of Healings, Working of Miracles, Gift of Prophecy and Discerning of Spirits. However, after the infilling of the Holy Spirit or overflow of the Holy Spirit, any or all nine gifts may be manifested frequently and in power through the life of the believer. (Note: An infilling of the Holy Spirit or Baptism of the Holy Spirit needs to take place before a believer can manifest the Gift of Tongues and Interpretation of Tongues.) As a believer matures in the Lord, certain gifts of the Holy Spirit may be expressed more frequently and effectively through the believer. It is then said that the believer have a ministry in those gifts. For example, when a person needs healing, the Lord can manifest the gifts of healing through any yielded believer to the person who needs healing. This does not mean the believer has a healing ministry. However, as this believer mature, the gifts of healing may be expressed more frequently and effectively through this believer. It is then said that this mature believer has a ministry in healing.

Today, we will look at ministry in prophecy. Since we are still in the Apostolic Age and the ministry of the apostle is still going on today, there are still those with the ministry of the prophet today. Just because the Old Testament prophets often spoke out against social and political abuses, and against priestcraft and the hierarchy of that day, does not mean that every protester and militant campaigner for social just is a ‘prophet’. Also, prophecy does not mainly consist of denouncing evil. It is not what a man says in the natural realm that makes him a prophet; it is the fact that he is moved by the Spirit of God to speak the words God gives him. There are many who love the title ‘prophet’ and as such they call themselves prophet. The fact that one can perform miracle or magic does not mean one is a prophet. What makes a man a prophet or woman a prophetess is that he or she brings the mind of God to people. As such, a prophet or prophetess must be able to hear from God. All the people referred to as prophets (in the bible and today) became prophets when the word of the Lord came to them. For example, Jeremiah 1:4 says: “Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,” A real prophet will not find it necessary to announce to others that he is a prophet; he will be known by his ministry. Look at what the bible had to say about Moses, a prophet of God. Numbers 12:3 says, “(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)” Moses did not need to print a flyer before people knew that he was a prophet. He didn’t even need to introduce himself as a prophet before people knew he is a prophet. Real prophets don’t need to announce that they are prophets before the people around know. A true prophet of God will naturally minister in the gift of prophecy often.

NOTE: A true prophet of God will be a mature Christian, as his ministry is listed as one of the offices to be used to bring the church to maturity ( Ephesians 4:8,11-16). No person should be allowed to minister as an established prophet in the Church unless he is thoroughly known by the brethren as to his doctrine and his manner of life.

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CONCERNING SPIRITUAL GIFTS: THE GIFT OF PROPHECY

MEMORY VERSE: But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 1 Corinthians 14:3

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Thessalonians

The gift of prophecy is a gift manifested when the believer speak the mind of God by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost and not from their own thoughts. There are three ways prophecy minister to believers: edification also known as building up, exhortation also known as urging on, and comfort also known as consoling. 1 Corinthians 14:3 says, “But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.” If an earthly father never corrected his children, it would be harmful and unloving. They wouldn’t grow up and mature normally. On the other hand, if the father was always telling them they were wrong, and never told them that he loved them and appreciated them, love wouldn’t grow between the parent and the children. Prophecy is not only "woe to this", "woe to that". No! It is a balance of exhortation and comfort. Please note that valid prophecy will not be harshly condemnatory of believers, but it may strongly counsel them. Although prophecy is mainly for believers, it can bring unbelievers to God (1 Corinthians 14:24-25).

In the Old Testament, there were men and women who were moved of God to prophesy. These prophets where chosen by God to speak His word to the people, usually ministering combining the gifts of prophecy and knowledge, and often doing other ‘mighty acts’ by the power of God. Many a time God’s will and intention is revealed through them. There are two major types of prophecies: conditional prophecy and unconditional prophecy. Certain conditions have to be met for a conditional prophecy to come to pass. Usually any prophecy concerning the future had an ‘if’ connected with it. A typical example can be found in the book of Jonah. The Lord sent Jonah to prophesy to the people of Nineveh. Jonah 3:4 says, “And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.” But, the people of Nineveh repented in sackclothes and ashes. What would have been the point of bothering to send Jonah if there was no chance for them to repent? Since they repented i.e. met the conditions for mercy, Nineveh wasn’t overthrown. Unconditional prophecy concerns God’s definite plan for example, the coming of Jesus. Isaiah 53 is a perfect example – it is one of the greatest prophecies in the Old Testament concerning the Lord Jesus. The ‘unconditional’ prophecies are mainly given for guide-posts to believers, so that we may discern the ‘signs of the times’. We are not supposed to be arguing with prophecies, but simply noting them as they come to pass, so that we know where we are in God’s time plan.

Also in Old Testament, God could not yet, by His Spirit, come to dwell in His people, but the Holy Spirit did come down to anoint certain people as they yielded to God. The Spirit rested on them. Ever since the day of Pentecost and outpouring of the Holy Spirit, any yielded child of God can be moved by the Holy Spirit to prophesy. Women are permitted to minister in prayer and prophesy as long as they are under ‘leadership’, that is, submitted to male leadership.

NOTE: Prophecy must always agree with the written Word of God. Please discard any prophecy that is not in consonance with the Word of God. The prophecy to eat grass does not agree with the written Word of God. The only human that ate grass in the written Word of God is Nebuchadnezzar and that happened after the Lord got angry with him and turned him into a beast!

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PRUDENT OR SIMPLE?

MEMORY VERSE: A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished. Proverbs 27:12

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Daniel 1-6

READ: Judges 16: 6-21

Proverbs 27:12 says, “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.” The first thing you need to know about the prudent is that he is not blind. He has a pair of eyes and he sees with them. There was a nurse, some years back, whose daughter was 5 months pregnant and she didn’t know. The shocking thing was this girl lived with her. It was a man of God who brought her attention to the girl's protruding tummy and the change in her complexion. How can a nurse live with a 5 months pregnant girl and not know except that she has eyes but can’t see with them? Friend, can you see?

The prudent has foresight. He foresees things especially evil things. The moment something happens, he knows where it will end because he is alert. Samson had no foresight. Delilah made her evil intentions known from the first day she met him. She literally told him "Samson, i want to finish you". Judges 16:6 says, “And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee.” Why did she want to know the secret of his great strength if not she intended on weakening him? On hearing this, i thought Samson would end the relationship but he didn't. He was so blinded by love, i guess, that he moved in with her. Delilah asked the secret of his great strength; at first he told her a lie, she tried it and failed. The same thing happened the second time and Samson still continued in the relationship. After two attempts on his life , a prudent man will run for his deal life but Samson remained. My beloved sister, can you foresee evil? A man once asked a lady (he was in a relationship with), “where are the weak points in your body”? Why will a man ask such a question if not that he intends on doing something with the information? Can you read between the lines? That single lady who is always asking you to come and pray with her when no one is around.... That single man who is always asking you to come and pass the night at his place.... I pray God will open your eyes in Jesus name.

The moment a prudent man foresees evil, he will hide himself from it. The moment a prudent sister hears a brother say he doesn't believe in sexual abstinence before marriage, she will withdraw from the brother. Such a sister knows that the ‘brother’ is yet to be saved even though he maybe a choir master. There are a lot of choir masters and head ushers who are not saved. All these are titles; they don’t represent a man’s heart. The moment a prudent brother hears a sister complaining of ‘mother –in-laws’ , he will retire back to the prayer room to make sure he has really heard from God. The moment a prudent man notices that he is often excited around a particular sister that is not his wife, he will run from her. The moment a prudent sister observes that any time she chats with a particular sister, she feels low in the spirit to the point of not being able to pray, she will withdraw from that sister or avoid long conversation with her.

PRAYER: Father, please open my eyes to see.

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CONCERNING SPIRITUAL GIFTS: THE GIFTS OF TONGUES

MEMORY VERSE: For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. 1 Corinthians 14:2

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 93-95

The gifts of God, when expressed as the Lord intended them to be, are beautiful, and needful in order that the body of Christ may grow and develop. As mentioned earlier in these series, these gifts are not earned but they are freely given by God to His children. Romans 8:32 says, “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” Before we define each gift, there is an important thing one needs to know and that is the gifts of God will be manifested according to one’s faith: " According to your faith be it unto you" (Matthew 9:29).

The first gift we will be looking at is the Gifts of Tongues. 1 Corinthians 14:2 says, “For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.” Speaking in tongues has nothing to do with emotion. Speaking in tongues cannot be emotion, for the emotions are part of the soul, the psychological nature, whilst speaking in tongues is speaking from or in the spirit. 1 Corinthians 14:14 says, “For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.” Speaking in tongues may stir the emotions, just as it may sharpen the intellect, and order the will, but you do not have to become emotional in order to speak in tongues. Remember, emotion is a response, an expression, not a cause. There is no compulsion involved in speaking in tongues. God does not compel His people to do things, but He inspires them. It is the enemy who ‘possess’ and compels people against their will. Whenever anyone says: “i do this because God makes do it!” referring to any physical manifestation, it is likely that it is not God at all, but either his own soulish (psychological) nature that is acting, or worse yet, an alien spirit that is oppressing him. I am not denying that the Holy Spirit can sovereignly cause physical sensations. It is not uncommon for a person to feel a supernatural movement upon cheeks, lips, or tongue, or a stammering tongue, or trembling of the body, when praying for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. There are cases of people experiencing a weakness of muscle, even to the point of not being able to stand up. On the day of Pentecost itself they were accused of drunkenness! Nonetheless, no matter how overwhelming the inspiration may be, and whether it is spiritual, psychological, or even physical in nature, the spirit of the prophet is still subject to the prophet (1 Corinthians 14:32). God can and does do unexpected and unusual things, but does not make His children behave in bizarre and grotesque ways that would frighten others. Speaking in tongues is your spirit speaking, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and your spirit is under your control.

Someone once asked, did Jesus speak in tongues when He was empowered by the Holy Spirit? No, He didn’t but He said we would do so. Jesus did not need the edification of speaking in tongues, and there were no barriers in His soul that made it necessary for His Spirit to speak to the Father in a language His mind did not understand. Moreover, speaking in tongues is the manifestation that was to come at Pentecost, in ‘fullness of time’ (John 14:12).

NOTE: Although the Spirit does not compel believers, it can and does compel unbelievers for example those who came out to arrest Jesus were thrown to the ground (John 18:5-6).

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CONCERNING SPIRITUAL GIFTS: THE GIFTS OF TONGUES AND INTERPRETATION

MEMORY VERSE: If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. 1 Corinthians 14:27-28

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Proverbs 16

There are two ways speaking in tongues may be manifested. Firstly, as a devotional language for private edification, needing no interpretation (1 Corinthians 14:2). This is the general speaking in tongues, and most of us are familiar with it. Secondly, there is the public manifestation of tongues, which should be interpreted. When a baptized-in-the-Holy-Spirit Christian is inspired to speak in tongues in the presence of others, with interpretation of tongues usually following, this is the Gift of Tongues. 1 Corinthians 14:27-28 says, “If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.” The gift of tongues is delivered or given to the listeners, and they are edified by the gift of Interpretation which follows.

There are two main ways the gift of tongues may be expressed in the gathered church. Firstly, through the gift of tongues and interpretation God may be speaking to the unbeliever and / or to believers. Although God does not speak in tongues, yet, He does guide yielded Christians to do so, and through tongues and interpretation He does speak to His people today. Isaiah 28:11 says, “For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.” The gift of tongues is not a sign to the believer since he doesn’t need a sign, but it may be a sign to the unbeliever (usually unsought for), causing him to accept the Lord Jesus Christ. How can the gift of tongues be a sign to the unbeliever? Firstly, it may be a known language to the unbeliever with God speaking directly to him. Secondly, it may not be a known language, but the powerful impact of the message in tongues, normally accompanied by interpretation, may speak to the unbeliever, and be a sign to him. All these are a sign to the unbeliever that God is real, alive, and concerned about him. Several years back, a sister was sharing her experience with me. As she prayed in tongues, someone who spoke Japanese heard her speak fluent Japanese. Meanwhile, this particular sister only speaks Yoruba language and English! The gifts of tongues may also be a message from God to bless and exhort faithful people. Secondly, the gifts of tongues may also be a public prayer, praise, or thanksgiving to God. Though all baptized-in-the-Holy-Spirit believers can and should speak in tongues daily in their prayers, not all will minister the gift of tongues in a public meeting (1 Corinthians 12:30). If you believe that God wants you to manifest the gift of tongues, be prepared to pray also for the gift of interpretation in case there is no other person present yielded enough to do so ( 1 Corinthians 14:13). The interpretation of tongues is bringing the meaning of what has been said through the gift of tongues at a public meeting. The Holy Spirit could give the interpretation of what has been said to the fellow who spoke in tongues or another fellow in the congregation. Interpretation may come into one’s mind, in toto, or just a few beginning words may be given, and as the interpreter trusts the Lord and begins to speak, the rest of the message comes. Interpretation may also come in pictures or symbols, or by an inspired thought, or the interpreter may hear the speaking in tongues, or part of it, as though the person were speaking directly in English. Please note that speaking in tongues can be counterfeited as such the gift of discerning spirits is needed.

NOTE: The gift of tongues and interpretation of tongues is first of all a sign to unbelievers when manifested according to scriptural instructions.

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CONCERNING SPIRITUAL GIFTS

MEMORY VERSE: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. Isaiah 11:2

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Chronicles 1-4

There is a need for one to know about spiritual gifts. 1 Corinthians 12:1 says, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.” This knowledge will be of tremendous help in one's spiritual growth. As such, we will be looking at the gifts of the Holy Spirit in these series. 1 Corinthians 12:7- 10 says: “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues.” Out of the nine gifts lifted above, seven of them – ‘Word of Wisdom’, ‘Word of Knowledge’, Gift of Faith, Gifts of Healings, Working of Miracles, Gift of Prophecy and Discerning of Spirits - were manifested in the Old Testament and Gospels from time to time as people were moved upon by the Holy Spirit. As we define each gift, we will provide incidents in the Old Testament and Gospels where each gift was manifested. To these seven were added two more since the Day of Pentecost: The Gift of Tongues and The interpretation of Tongues. Believers who have not yet experienced Pentecost may manifest any of these seven gifts occasionally, much of the time not even recognizing them as such. Elijah, Elisha, Daniel, etc, manifested some of these gifts long before the Day of Pentecost. However, after the fullness and overflow of the Spirit, any or all nine gifts may be manifested frequently and in power through the life of the believer.

The first seven gifts of the Holy Spirit ( ‘Word of Wisdom’, ‘Word of Knowledge’, Gift of Faith, Gifts of Healings, Working of Miracles, Gift of Prophecy and Discerning of Spirits) should not be confused with the Seven-fold Gifts of Grace mentioned in Isaiah 11:2 which says: “And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.” These are not spiritual gifts at all, but characteristics of the Holy Spirit in His sevenfold Nature, referred to in Revelations 1:4 as the ‘seven spirits’ which are before God’s Throne, the sevenfold Spirit of God. Revelations 1:4 says, “John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne.” Nevertheless, we can see a direct relationship between these last six characteristics of the Holy Spirit (the first being ‘the Spirit of the Lord’ Himself), and the nine fold Gifts. As a believer, if you want the Lord to use you in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, you must learn to listen to God and He speaks through several ways (we have already discussed in times past). The gifts of the Holy Spirit are good gifts and perfect gifts (James 1:17). Although God’s gifts are perfect, we need to be reminded that the mortal channels through whom they are expressed are not. Don’t follow a person just because he has a ‘gift ministry’. Instead, look for the fruit in his life, for honesty and purity brought about by the Spirit of Truth – the Holy Spirit- and a hunger for and appreciation of God’s word. Look for balanced teachings between literal and spiritual meanings of the Scripture, look for fellowship with other brethren; and then receive only that which is quicken to you by the Holy Spirit, and which agrees with the scriptures.

NOTE: Christians don’t follow signs, signs follow Christians.

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