Lesson 7
Prophecy
1
Corinthians 12:7 But the
manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit
of all
8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to
another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of
healings
by the same Spirit,
10 to another the working of miracles, to
another prophecy, to another discerning of
spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the
interpretation of tongues..
Jesus is the Living Word
Revelation 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
The reason for the baptism of the Holy Spirit is for the voice of God to be commonly available to all mankind. This ensures that the voice of God can be heard by all. Not just a few selected prophets. So one of the operations of the Holy Spirit is to bring the voice of God to those who are believers.
Now there are several different inspirational levels. Low level prophecy and a deeper level....going on to the "Word of the Lord"
Proper Preaching is Prophetic
Throughout the bible preachers brought the word of God to the people. This was not a dissertation or explanation of the scriptures. It was not a mental exposition on someone's opinion of scriptural interpretation. But it was the voice of God from heaven coming through a man who had given himself over to God for that time.
Romans 10:8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach)."
God's word comes from our spirits because "in Him" we are linked to His spirit. Being linked to God in heaven ensures that His thoughts and voice come through your heart. When you give yourself over to preaching properly then His voice dominates you and your own thoughts are put back on the shelf so to speak.
This is real preaching. It is vital for us to hear from God and not from men. In churches today around the world but especially in lukewarm areas, the voice of God is stifled and the voice of men's opinion is heard almost totally.
Men can interpret scriptures wrongly and substitute their argument for the word of the Lord. Yet we have available to us on planet earth the voice of God. Why then would we go back to men's opinions when God's voice is commonly available now?
It is called pride and unbelief.
God's Voice is Available Everywhere
Now the word of the Lord is available everywhere and does not have to be received through educated vessels. Nor even intellectual vessels. Because it is "spiritually discerned". It is received in the heart not the head of believers.
John 6:45 "It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’
All, everywhere. Now even the ability to read is not found everywhere in the world but the ability to have a human spirit is in everyman. And it is through the human heart that the voice of God comes. It is not dependent on IQ. Nor education, or mental knowledge. Though the west often thinks that it is. (Not surprising as technology is one of modern man's most recent idols)
Proverbs 8:17 I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me.
Prophecy is Speaking From Heaven
The whole meaning of the word "prophecy or to prophesy" is to speak from heaven or bring the word of God from heaven to earth. It is not to learn something and then regurgitate it.
This gifting of the Holy Spirit enables us to do just that. Whether preceded by the word that we might put in such as ..."the word of the Lord says...etc" doesn't matter the fact is the Lord knows what people's needs are ad speaks to them through the preachers. Not the preacher needing to know the needs but the Holy Spirit inside the preacher knows the needs and ministers through the preacher, with word to people. Making sure that they know that he sees and cares for them personally.
Holy Spirit Shows the Future
John 16:13 "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come."
Foretelling the future by the Holy Spirit empowerment is expected in prophetic preaching or even by those who pray and are linked to God through the Holy Spirit.
This is what Jesus told us would happen. That the element that all know is present in prophecy is to tell the future or at least foretell things to come. The element of the supernatural that no one could have known. Supernatural future knowledge and effects. All the prophets of the Old Testament would be able to do this.
BOOK E
Lesson Seven
Questions
