What Prophecy Isn't

 

What Prophecy Isn’t

1 Corinthians 12

1 Corinthians 13

1 Corinthians 14

1 Corinthians 11

1 Corinthians 14:40

1 Timothy 2

Acts 21:9

     Wanna blast a cannon sized hole in someone’s bow?  Tell a new believer that God has a special word for them.  The undiscerning swallow the bait and barb to the lower parts of their bowels.  There it festers until the time of surgery.  This would be false prophecy.

     Ah the power of those impressive upon those impressed!  With eyes wide open they run into the stick.  Blood runs upon the street as they are stunted from reaching out again.  In the back of their minds, searing has happened for smoke rises above their hair.  Mistrust sown in, and the devil laughs.

     Why in the world would God give us something so powerful?  Why can’t we all just go back to Bible camp and sing the simple songs that join us all together?  Well, simple didn’t equip us on the run when the Romans chased us.  Mussolini and tanks, even modern warfare that doesn’t allow for a structured, forty-eight-minute worship/ message, sometimes call for God’s personal word right now.  Under duress, can we hear Him?  Or do we hear they?

     Hearing they is something God wants to adversely avoid.  What father would settle for a counterfeit whispering into their children’s ears?  Hence, when God wants to speak directly to us, He has rules:

1 Corinthians 12 – Prophecy is but one spiritual gift given out by God. The person using it must work with others for the building up of the church.

1 Corinthians 13 – Prophecy’s foundation is love.  It is purely motivated by love.

1 Corinthians 14 – Prophecy is a gift to be desired. It is a very useful tool in speaking to men “edification, and exhortation, and comfort.”

1 Corinthians 11 – Prophecy requires both men and women to subject themselves to the powers that be over them.  If not, they risk demonic involvement.

1 Corinthians 14:40 – Prophecy must not overcrowd the stage.  Everything must be done in decency and order.

1 Timothy 2 – Prophecy as given by God is not systematic teaching.  Yes, women are not to teach or have authority over men.  And if they want to learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home.  But as in 1 Corinthians 11, woman are also invited to join.

Acts 21:9 – Prophecy is a gift that can be shared together.

     The incredible gifting of listening for God’s voice then telling another is great!  Prophecy can enrich His worship as we come together.  Incredible discernment must be exercised that we not get carried away into the woods.  God surely uses the foundation of His word.  Those who have been trained to rightly divide it can bless many.

 

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