The Gift of Prophecy Pt.2
Notes
Transcript
Rapid-Fire Recap
Rapid-Fire Recap
Who is the head of the church? Jesus Christ
Who gives these spiritual gifts that we are studying?
To whom are these gifts given?
Last week we began studying about what gift?
The gift of prophecy is the first mentioned in the list of Romans 12, so lets look at the verse that it is found in: Romans 12:6
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
The Gift of Prophecy
The Gift of Prophecy
We started to look at this gift last week, and we discussed the first two of three things we will see for each gift:
What is the gift?
What are the characteristics of that gift?
What are the dangers of that gift?
What Is the Gift of Prophecy?
What Is the Gift of Prophecy?
The gift of prophecy as it pertains to revealing new and future things has ceased as has the office of the prophet. However, God has given a gift to some of His people that gives them the ability to boldly proclaim and correctly interpret God’s truth.
Someone with the gift of prophecy is one who proclaims the truth with boldness. This person has no problem expressing themselves verbally.
Christians are to be very wary of those who claim to have a “new” message from God. It is one thing to say, “I had an interesting dream last night.” However, it is quite another matter to say, “God gave me a dream last night, and you must obey it.” No utterance of man should be considered equal to or above the written Word. We must hold to the Word that God has already given and commit ourselves to Scripture alone, and the reason we hold to that is because of 2 Timothy 3:13-17
2 Timothy 3:13–17 (KJV 1900)
13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
[Now, we know that Timothy was taught the Scriptures from his mother and grandmother and also by the Apostle Paul, but what was the source of the things he had learned, and from where were they teaching him? The next verse tells us.]
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
[So the study of the Scriptures, the written word of God, is supposed to help aid us in not being deceived.]
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
This study of the Scriptures is what helps us to be thoroughly furnished to every good work. Not visions, not dreams, not extra-biblical “revelation.”
What Are the Characteristics of the Gift of Prophecy?
What Are the Characteristics of the Gift of Prophecy?
We looked primarily at the Apostle Peter as the example of someone with the gift of prophecy, and we saw that someone with the gift of prophecy...
Feels a strong need to express themselves and does so verbally
Feels the need to express their thoughts about what is good and evil
Believes everything should be done according to God’s word
Often knows when someone is not what they claim to be and reacts strongly to dishonesty
Often makes hasty judgments
Acts impulsively, but whole-heartedly
Tends to reject those who offend; is very concerned with seeking justice
Is honest about personal failures and mistakes
Has the ability to suffer for doing what is right
When it comes to delivering God’s word, those with the gift of prophecy have a mission: deliver the word. They can become very mission oriented and therefore come across as judgmental or impersonal. They are serious in warning about sin and do not hesitate to reveal sin. They are dedicated and loyal. Their loyalty, however, tends to be to what is right more so than to individuals.
What Are the Dangers of the Gift of Prophecy?
What Are the Dangers of the Gift of Prophecy?
This evening we pick up here which is where we left off last week. Let’s talk about the dangers of the gift of prophecy.
Every gift of the Spirit is meant to be exercised in the Spirit. When we start to exercise our gift carnally (in the flesh), then we will inevitably fall into certain traps. These are the dangers that we will speak of each of the spiritual gifts.
The person with this gift will struggle in the areas of...
The person with this gift will struggle in the areas of...
There are some things that this person will have struggles with.
Let’s look again at our passage in Romans 12:6
Romans 12:6 (KJV 1900)
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
1 …Faith
1 …Faith
Romans 12:6 (KJV 1900)
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
Those with the gift of prophesy must speak according to the proportion, the measure, of faith that they have. The Bible tells us that faith comes by the word of God. Romans 10:17
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Without the word of God there is no faith. The measure of faith in a someone is directly related to to the word of God in them. Those with this gift of prophecy have the danger of proclaiming truth without relying on God’s word. John 17:17 Jesus, praying over his disciples and future believers, prays that we be sanctified, set apart for God’s purpose, through the truth of God’s word.
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Because those with this gift tend to be persuasive (there messages are generally in the persuasive sense, attempting to convince people to leave evil and do right), they tend to rely on their own words and intellect, rather than on God’s words and His wisdom.
Romans 14:23 (KJV 1900)
23 ...for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
Paul made it a point to preach in the power and under the influence of the Holy Spirit, not simply trusting in his own words to be what would convince others.
2 …Love
2 …Love
The person with the gift of prophecy will also struggle with truly loving others, something that all Christians struggle with, but because of the characteristics of this gift, it can be much more noticeable.
At the end of the transitional gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12, we find the famous passage on love which is 1 Corinthians 13. But as we read about the last gift of the Spirit mentioned in Romans 12:8, the gift of mercy, we come to Romans 12:9 that also gives an admonition to exercise these gifts in love.
9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
In this passage, love is taken for granted as a characteristic of Christians. Paul does not admonish the Roman believers to have love, but he encourages them to practice love in a certain way. The word dissimulation in the Greek in anypokritos. Think anti-hypocritical. So the phrase “without dissimulation” means “without hypocrisy.” Let your love be true, not fake.
The person with the gift of prophecy can fall into the trap of proclaiming the truth without love. Ephesians 4:12 tells us that we are to speak the truth in love. The mark of an immature prophet is that he speaks the truth without love. So, as a person grows in this gift, their words will be more and more seasoned with love.
Almost every time that the New Testament writers wrote about truth and love, love comes first. Love should be our motivation to speak truth. If we are motivated by anything else, then we are misusing the gift given to us.
A. When proclaiming the truth without love the prophet tends to see groups rather than individuals.
A. When proclaiming the truth without love the prophet tends to see groups rather than individuals.
It is difficult to love a group. Peter had this problem until Jesus corrected His lack of love. We find this in John 21:15-19. Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me?” To which Peter responds, “Yes, Lord. You know that I love you.” Jesus, referencing the other disciples, then instructs Peter to feed and tend to His sheep. He doesn’t say, “Feed my flock.” It is not the group that Jesus is interested in, it is the individual disciples, so He says, “Feed my sheep.”
Peter’s motivation is corrected. He is to let love be the motivation for the truth which he speaks.
B. When proclaiming the truth without love the prophet will do things with zeal while others will see him as harsh and heartless.
B. When proclaiming the truth without love the prophet will do things with zeal while others will see him as harsh and heartless.
Those that speak without love will say things without tact or caution. Peter, as a young man, is known for being bold and brash, not thinking of consequences either in his actions or his words. However, we see a very different Peter as an older man, still with the gift of prophecy, but now commanding his readers to be motivated by love. 1 Peter 3:8-9
8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
The same Peter that tried to cut off someone’s head for the false arrest of Jesus is now saying, “Don’t render evil for evil.”
8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
I want you to know that this does not diminish Peter’s boldness one bit. The portions of Acts 2 that we read earlier are Peter’s sermon to the people gathered at the Temple on the day of Pentecost, and he is bold about how he preaches things. Then later, when Peter and John get arrested by the same Pharisees that arrested and tried Jesus, Peter has no qualms about telling those that have arrested him that they were guilty in putting an innocent Jesus to death. He is made no less bold by love, but he is now motivated properly.
C. When proclaiming the truth without love the prophet may expose to offend rather than to restore.
C. When proclaiming the truth without love the prophet may expose to offend rather than to restore.
The purpose of exposing sin in others should always be to restore and edify, never to be an offence. That doesn’t mean we should be overly cautious, trying to never offend anyone. But what it means is that the truth is often offensive enough all on its own, there is no need to add to that offense, or make it our goal. Galatians 6:1
1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Being full of, controlled by, the Holy Spirit will cause us to demonstrate meekness, a characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit and one of the beatitudes (Christianity 101). The truth may still offend, but the important thing is that our hearts were right in the presentation and exposition of that truth.
The person with the gift of prophecy will also have trouble with...
3 …Hating Evil
3 …Hating Evil
9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
Abhor means to hate, to detest.
The person with this gift, if he is not carefully walking in the love of Christ, can turn his hatred toward people instead of toward sin. This is damaging and not edifying.
When preaching against evil the prophet may...
When preaching against evil the prophet may...
A …fall into the same error or sin which he has been preaching about.
A …fall into the same error or sin which he has been preaching about.
Luke 22:33-34
33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.
34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.
B … tend to always focus on the negative.
B … tend to always focus on the negative.
Though it is good to preach against sin and to point sin and weakness out in other believers, that is not the whole of the Gospel. There is encouragement to give, there is comfort to provide, and there is being a help.
C …condemn himself to the extreme when he sins.
C …condemn himself to the extreme when he sins.
8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
Though self-examination is good and necessary, sin in our lives is not unforgivable nor is it unredeemable. Those that sin can experience forgiveness and cleansing through Jesus. Wallowing in the feeling of guilt is not what God means us to do once we have confessed our sin.
D … may make the mistake of accusing others of deception those who are not as transparent as himself.
D … may make the mistake of accusing others of deception those who are not as transparent as himself.
E …may fall into the trap of trying to correct someone who is not under his authority.
E …may fall into the trap of trying to correct someone who is not under his authority.
20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
General Application
General Application
In short, those with this gift tend to have insight, foresight, and act like watch dogs in the church. They warn of sin or reveal sin. They are usually very verbal and may come across as judgmental and impersonal; they are serious, dedicated, and loyal to truth even over friendship.
The gift of proclaiming the truth (prophecy) is a gift that God gives. The believer who has this gift is one that is loyal, strong in their convictions and one that seeks to proclaim the truth no matter what.
The person who has this gift will have to be aware of the dangers of not supporting what he says with the word of God, to proclaim the truth without love and must learn to abhor evil and follow good.
The Church needs people who have this gift and use it well. Do you have the gift of prophecy? Use it with love, with faith, hating that which is evil and doing that which is right. If you're saved, you have at least one gift (I P. 4:10) and you should use it in the body, the Church.
