Sat, Jun 23rd - 6:39AM

THE GIFT OF PROPHECY

Brothers and sisters, the sign gifts have their place in the church but God forbids for them to dominate and be promoted over preaching, teaching, worship in the church. Some denominations have arisen in error promoting one or more of the sign gifts above what God commands. But this is no surprise since all of them are derived in whole or in part on false man- made doctrines and tradition. On their respective so called “founders” day, it is some guy(s) or gal(s), not Jesus Christ, that is glorified.

Sometimes, it arises in some true churches too, but they will repent when shown the truth, but the wicked never will.

The Bible, again fully and explicitly commands that everything be done decently and in order in the church. So, the church after preaching, teaching, and worship, can set aside a time for prophecy in the church,  and other sign gifts as well as a time for the saints G40 Hagios) to offer psalms, hymns, one by one and also engage in congregational singing. Praise God for the multitude of churches who take time to receive and minister all the spiritual food that God has for the church. Unfortunately, some churches set aside no time for the gifts. These are most likely to have a large portion of their service dedicated to the choir, singers and musicians to get the church "in the mood" and ready for a sermon, but they may ask for an offering first. The danger of putting the preaching, and teaching last is that the church will suffer in not having the joy in fully knowing and understanding the God we worship.

Dearly beloveds, the Bible warns that the church is never to allow people to be disorderly in the church in any manner. There is no justification for anybody interfering with the preaching, teaching and worship in the church by yelling out prophecy, tongue, word of knowledge etc.  and demanding to be heard.  The standard for the church, let it be said repeatedly is let all things proceed decently and in order.  The gifts do not serve as a talent show to promote the individual, it is for the benefit of the whole church through the power of the Holy Spirit as He speaks through the individual(s).

Feel free to study this further on your own. Edification: The act of building up.

Exhortation: exhortation, admonition, encouragement; consolation, comfort, solace; that which affords comfort or refreshment.

Comfort: any address, whether made for the purpose of persuading, or of arousing and stimulating, or of calming and consoling; consolation, comfort.

The Bible reminds the church: 1Th 5:19 - Quench not the Spirit.

Quench: to extinguish, quench to be quenched, to put out; metaph. to quench, to suppress, stifle.

1Th 5:20 - Despise not prophesyings. Despise: to make of no account, despise utterly.

love

serola

Sun, Jun 17th - 4:14AM

Brothers and sisters, we take a break from the journey in Hebrews study.

THE GIFT OF PROPHECY

Prophesy in the church has been abused by some. Because of this, it is important to understand that unlike prophesy in the old covenant which God limited to prophets and certain others for God’s purposes; the gift of prophecy is given to the church as a whole through the new covenant.

 Acts 2: 17And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

18And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.

The source of all the gifts to the church:

1 Cor 12: 11But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

What this means, saints (G40 hagios) is that the gift of prophecy is prompted directly through the will of the Holy Spirit, never under the power of anyone to claim either the office of the prophet or arising out of their own personal power.

The purpose that prophecy serves for and to the church:

 None of the spiritual gifts is ever given for the benefit of the individual alone -- spiritual gifts are not for private or personal use.  Instead they are intended to flow out of the gifted person, through the Holy Spirit to touch the lives of others around him or her.

1 Cor 14: 3But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 4He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. 5I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

1 Cor 14: 20Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. 21In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. 22Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

1 Cor 14: 24But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: 25And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

How God commands the gift of prophecy be used in the church:

1 Cor 14: 29Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 30If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. 31For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. 32And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

All prophecy must be tested. Any and all prophecy that contradicts the Bible in any way manner or form must be soundly rejected. No prophesy is acceptable based on personal opinion, or extrabiblical sources.

Prophecy must be given in self- control. Dramatic sounding words and dramatic or spectacular movements of the giver is neither required nor a sign of biblical authenticity.

Special clothing, anointing oil, musical accompaniment, a long beard, or any other paraphernalia is forbidden and unnecessary for prophesy.

 Dearly beloveds, let us continue to be grateful for all the gifts from God, and be careful to use them in the synergistic way that God commands, knowing that when Jesus comes most of them will be done away with because they will no longer be necessary. Let us therefore pursue the best gift of all:

1 Cor 13:2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

1 Cor 13: 8Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

1 Cor 13: 13And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

 love

serola

Tue, Jun 5th - 11:13AM