Understanding and Using Prophecy and the Gifts of the Spirit


UNDERSTANDING AND USING PROPHECY

AND OTHER GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT


Gifts of the Spirit.   (1 Cor 12:7-11)                                                                                                                                      
1. Words of Wisdom (v. 8) supernaturally knowing what to do in certain situations.
2.     Words of knowledge (v. 8) knowledge of things you don’t know in the “natural”.
3.     faith (v. 9) a supernatural empowerment to believe for a specific event.
4.     Healing (9) of body, mind or spirit.
5.     Miracles (10) over-riding natural laws of creation or time.
6. Prophecy (10)  ability to hear God’s voice and share it with others.
7. Discernment of spirits (10) sensing if spirit activity comes from God, man or a demonic influence.
8. Tongues (10),      speaking in unknown languages.
9. Interpretation of tongues (10) – Interpretation (not translation) of a tongue given in a public meeting or personal prayer. Tongues + interpretation=prophesy. (1 Cor. 14:5).

Prophecy

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. 1 Cor. 14:1
19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil. 1 Thess. 5:19-22

10 At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Revelation 19:10

Prophecy-“The ability to hear God’s voice and share it with others.

1.   Prophecy in the Old Testament
     Confined to certain believers as the Spirit came on them.  The great OT prophets – Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, David, Moses. Aaron., etc. Numbers 11:24-30 tell of a time 70 elders prophesied once when the spirit of God came upon them. Moses wished that all God’s people would prophesy. (11:29). This desire became a possibility in the New Covenant. (Acts 2:18-19).

2.   Prophecy in the New Testament

      Now possible for all believers  to prophesy. ( Joel 2:28; Acts 2:18, 19:  “I will pour out my Spirit on all people – sons, daughters, old men, young men…  they will prophesy“)  1 Cor 14:1,5. “I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy”  “Desire to prophesy”  1 Cor 14:39  earnestly desire ….  especially that you may prophesy.” All can be anointed to prophesy – some have a ministry of prophecy  e.g. Agabus – Acts 21. Judas and Silas Acts 15:32, Phillips 4 daughters Acts 15:21 Ephesians 4:11, 12.

Old Testament focused often on judgement, New Testament focuses on comfort, edification and exhortation (1Cor. 14:3).

 3.   Nature of Prophecy
      Forthtelling      Declaring the truth about God, the world, life, and God’s purposes for  mankind, and peoples and individuals in particular  e.g. Israel.  Recounting the mighty deeds of God – e.g Miriam’s song in Ex 15.  Often parallel to preaching (preaching may include prophecy); linked with evangelism and social concern e.g. Amos – “Let justice roll down like waters…”
       Foretelling      events of the future e.g. Agabus Acts 11:28 predicts famine over world. Also Paul’s imprisonment Acts 21:11 “took belt and bound Paul’s hands…”  e.g. John in Revelation.  1 Timothy 4:1  “The Spirit expressly says…”

-All personal prophecy is conditional even if conditions are not stated or implied. (1 Sam. 13:13). It is always progressive, incomplete and ever expanding. (1 Cor 13:9). An example of this is found in the life of Mary, Jesus Mother and John the Baptist.. (Luke 1:31, 33; John 1:29).
“And behold, thou shalt conceive……………………………….Immediate
“And bring forth a son”………………………………………………….9 months later
“And of his kingdom there shall be no end………………...”Already, but not yet fully.”
Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world…..3 years later.
 
4.   Purpose of Prophecy
1. Exhortation                 Acts 15:32  -    Judas and Silas encourage and strengthen
2. Edification                   1 Cor 14: 3-4   builds up the church, spirit, each other, etc.
3. Comfort                       1 Cor. 14:3-4
3. Sign to unbelievers     1 Cor 14:24     may convict or reveal…God is really among you.
4. Prediction                   Acts 11:28   -    Agabus
5. To glorify God             Rev 19:10, John 3:30

5.         Exercise of Prophecy

-Key for operation: FAITH NOT FEELINGS. “If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith.” (Romans 12:6b).
-One yarn loose in a scarf principal. When you begin in faith with one scripture, word, phrase, picture….trust that more will come. We prophesy and move in the gifts of the spirit by faith.
-Jumping of a diving board in an empty swimming pool principle. If God says jump, trust him to fill the bath tub up when you jump.
-You are in control of yourself. – (1 Cor 14:32)  “spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.” “All things need to be done decently and in order.” (1 Cor. 14:40).
-MUST OPERATE IN HUMILITY, TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY (SUBMISSION TO GODLY AUTHORITY) AND LOVE. A prophetic gift does not allow someone to be rude, rebellious or arrogant. (1 Cor. 14:1). Accountability, humility, and transparency keep people safe. Operating out of anger, rebellion, bitterness, and/or frustration is dangerous and can lead to charismatic witchcraft. (1 Samuel 24:4).
-People need space to grow in their gifts. They need permission to step out and learn knowing that if mistakes are made they will be lovingly corrected and encouraged, and not condemned. (BTW, this is important for learning anything).
-Wide variety of ways in which revelation is received
Through scripture, pictures, feelings, word, etc.
Through dreams  e.g Joseph and sheaves of corn  Gen 37
Through visions . Dan 7:15  “visions that passes through my mind”
May be spoken, sung, poetry, drawn,
In prophetic acts or parables.  e.g Ezek 16:1-14 Jerusalem as a bride. Acted oracles  e.g. Clay jar broken – Jer 19  e.g. Hosea marrying Gomer an adulterous wife
Through impressions  e.g. Amos 8:1  basket of ripe fruit.
Through riddles  e.g. Numbers 12:6
Through puns e.g. Jer 1:12 – almond branch blooming or “watching”
-As in hermeneutics of interpreting the Bible, the three steps for interpreting a prophecy are: Revelation (scripture/ word/picture, etc), Interpretation (What does it mean), and Application (What do I do about it). The wrong interpretation or application of a legitimate word from God does not make the application right. (John 11:49-53: Caiphas prophesies Jesus must die.)   

6.    Response to Prophecy

Test all prophecy  1 Cor 14:29, 1 Thess. 5:19-22.
As a general rule, stay away from births, marriages, and deaths.
Prophecy will always be consistent with scripture.
Look for confirmation of the Body of Christ. Be open for input from others.
Wait for it to be revealed – may have to be put in “pending” tray or in the “refrigerator.”
Remember prophecies can be about past, present, immediate or long term future.
Test the prophecy, write it down and use it to fight the good fight of faith (1 Tim. 1:18).
18 Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well,… (1 Timothy 1:18).

Resources for further Study
For an excellent book on operating in the Gifts of the Spirit see:
Best, Gary. Naturally Supernatural ( Vineyard International Publishing: Cape Town, S. Africa) ,2008. (Dutch:  Natuurlijk Bovennatuurlijk).

Another title about operating in the prophetic see:
Deere, Jack. The Beginner’s Guide to the Gift of Prophecy. (Regal Books: Ventura) 2001.  (Dutch: De gave van profetie)

Both of these books are available in Dutch from insideout publishers .  

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