The Holy Spirit Part 6 (Prophecy)

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Holy Spirit Series (Prophecy)

Part 6

Good Morning – Last week we talked about being Baptized in Holy Spirit

• And you all came back… which is awesome
  • For me this series has been such a great refresher – I’m learning
  • Challenging me to pursue deeper relationship with the H.S.
  • Pray it is doing the same for you
• We mch want to be a church that wants everything God wants for us
  • We diligently seek out the Scriptures / Holy Spirit
  • Truth / Discernment
  • Right thinking / Right living
• I believe these things were always supposed to go together

Tag: So finally – 6 weeks into series: Getting into the stuff the Spirit does

We are gonna kick it off with: Prophecy

Turn to 1 Cor. 14 – Probably best place in Bible that talks about Prophecy

1 Cor. 14:1

Follow the way of love (last week – can’t talk about gifts w/o love) and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.

• Paul writes that prophecy (get into what that is in a minute)
  • Is something that we are to eagerly desire
  • Gk – ZoAoh: Usually translated: Jealousy or to Covet
    • So this isn’t just think it would be nice, good idea
    • We are to want it so bad… that we long for it
• And we’re to desire prophecy more than all the other manifestations
  • More than tongues
  • More than healing
  • More than anything else – Prophecy is top of the list

Even reading this: Some of ur red flags going up – Knew this gets weird

• But… if I were to say to you – Hey do you believe that God speaks
  • Would you have an issue with that – Probably not
  • We believe God is active and involved in the world today
• Or asked… Ever had a thought comes to heart/mind about someone
  • Feels so heavy that you have to call – text – meet w/ that person
  • And then when you act on that and say it
    • That person says: That is exactly what I needed to hear
    • Yes – We would say that is how God works
• That is also what scripture writers call prophecy

Tag: Before look at 1 Cor 14 – Lets trace this idea of prophecy thru scripture

Lets go back to Genesis 1 – Everything starts in Genesis

Gen. 1:1-3

In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth. Now the Earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the (RUACH: wind/breath/Spirit of God) was hovering over the waters.

• Remember this word picture – Bird flapping its wings over waters

And God said, “Let there be light”, and there was light…

Verse 6

And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it and it was so.

Verse 9

And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so.

Gen. 1:14-15

And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so.

However u read Genesis Chapter 1 – Whether literal 24 hour days or not

• My Point is that the world itself was born by the mouth of God
  • That God is from the beginning a speaking God
  • He speaks the cosmos itself into existence
• And there are all sorts of ways that God speaks
  • Could do a series alone on that
  • One of the many ways: God speaks through people
  • When that happens we call it prophecy

And this continues through the Old Testament

Numbers 11 – First prophet in Bible is Moses (also 1^st writer of scripture)

Num. 11:24-29

So Moses went out and told the people what the LORD had said. He brought together seventy of their elders and had them stand around the tent. Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and he took some of the power of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied – but did not do so again.

However, two men, whose names were Eldad and Medad, had remained in the camp. They listed among the elders, but did not go out of the tent. Yet the Spirit also rested on them and they prophesied in the camp.

A young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ aide since youth, spoke up and said, “Moses my lord, stop them!” But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would put his Spirit on (not in) them!”

• So here is Moses the 1^st prophet of all time
  • And he is: Wishing and longing that all God’s people prophesied

Joel 2 – Couple 100 years – Israel is now a nation – Not doing well

Joel 2:28-30

Then, after doing all those things (In the future), I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on servants – men and women alike. And I will cause wonders in the heavens and on the earth.

• Joel sees a day in the future where all God’s people will prophecy
  • Not just Moses and his elders
  • But all of God’s people
    • All flesh – Jew and non-Jew
    • Men and Women
    • Young and Old
• Joel says this will happen in a future new age of the Spirit

Back to Jeremiah – OT not chronological – Actually few 100 years later

Jer 31:31-34 (Picking up on Joel’s Prophecy)

The day is coming, says the LORD (Again this is in the future), when I will make a new covenant with he people of Israel and Judah. This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant, though I loved them as a husband loves his wife, says the LORD.

But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the LORD. I will put my instructions (WORD – TORAH) deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be my people. And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying you should know the LORD. For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already, says the LORD. And I will forgive their wickedness and I will never again remember their sins.

• Notice the language used here
  • I will put my WORD into their minds – Write it on their hearts
  • So in this new age it will be about their minds & hearts
• So this is different than OT prophecy
  • As far as we can tell – OT prophets heard audible voice of God
  • Moses would come down from the mountain of fire/smoke
  • Would announce – “GOD SAID” and quote Him verbatim
• In the future (NOW) it says that it is different
  • Instead it is now a direct deposit into your mind & heart
  • Or in other words: Into your thinking & feeling
  • God will speak directly into the CORE OF YOUR BEING

Now lets go to the New Testament

Acts 2:1-6

When the day of Pentecost came (Jewish Feast), they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with he Holy Spirit (never been done before) and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Talk about that next week)

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken

Acts 2:13-18

Some however made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine”. Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: (Here is quote we just read) “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants both men and women I will pour out my Spirit in those days and they will prophesy.

• Peter is saying we aren’t drunk or incoherent
  • No – This is a prophesy from 800 years ago coming to pass today
  • This is the beginning of a new reality for all God followers
  • And this new reality is full of (From the text)
    • Prophecy
    • Dreams
    • Visions
• But does this look/function the same way as it did in the OT
  • Lets turn to Acts 21

Acts 21:8-14

Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied. After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, (Interesting – Not Yahweh but Holy Spirit) “In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.

When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done”.

Here we learn two massive things about prophecy in NT

• 1: Prophecy in this new age is similar but different than OT prophets
  • Not the same as Moses in Mt. Sinai w/ audible voice of God
  • It’s impressions – put into heart & mind
  • This makes it more subjective
• 2: Three parts to prophecy: Revelation/Interpretation/Application
  • 1 – Revelation: You get something from Spirit of God in ur heart
  • 2 – Interpretation: So what does this mean – who is it for
  • 3 – Application: What should I/they do this (for me/now/later)

Story: Growing up many Mexico trips – 18 was last trip

Was going as a leader now – Started at 13 – Knew I was to be pastor

• So the night before we left I had a prophetic dream
  • I was outside a huge mansion (scary movie)
  • There was a line of people walking into mansion (Think Disney)
• But when they went into the house there were terrible screams
  • So I run into the front door of the house past the line
  • See a stairwell & door at the top of the stairs they were entering
  • Go upstairs and into the room – Closet door that was a black void
    • We they entered the door the would scream and be gone
• People were in a zombie state – couldn’t see what was happening
  • I was trying to tell them to stop but they kept walking in
  • So I stood in front of the door and physically stopped them
  • And then they would walk up and leave the room

Then I heard something coming up the stairs – sounded like a beast

• Came in the room as a darkness – To kill me
  • Chased me into the basement and then turned into Satan
  • We argued about the death & resurrection of Jesus
  • Eventually said if you go back to that room – I will kill you
• So I decided to go back into the room – Stopped more people
  • And I could hear the beast coming to kill me
  • Noise got louder and louder – But it never came
    • Then I woke up
• This was absolutely a prophetic dream
  • Revelation – God gave the dream to me
  • Interpretation – Gonna be a intense trip – Adversary will attack
  • Application – Don’t fear because the enemy can’t touch you
    • You are a child of God
    • You are protected by God
    • All the enemy can do is throw hollow threats

And this trip was like no other trip I was ever on

• We had a Catholic priest say he would kill us if we came back
  • Had a group of people start throwing stones at us during VBS
  • Almost had road washed out under us
  • Bribe a cop to let us go on the road
  • And I was stung by most poisonous scorpion there is
• But through it all I never feared – After I came back from hospital
  • I preached my first full sermon
  • About how we never have to fear what the Devil can do
  • Because God is on our side

Tag: So it was understanding what was Happening/Identifying/Applying

All that to say: This is the same process we take with the scriptures

• You have the Revelation: Text – Acts 21
  • Then u have to interpret the text – Much harder than just reading
  • Then u have the application – How do I live in light of this story
    • And the revelation is the easy part
    • Its interpretation/application people get off – get weird
• It’s the exact same way with prophecy – Why so often God speaks
  • Revelation is right on – Its straight from Jesus
  • Where it gets all weird is – part 2 or part 3

We see this in the story – Prophet Augubus has revelation from God

• Don’t know 4 sure – Guess he sees image of Paul bound in Jerusalem
  • His interpretation is: This is you under arrest – All that is right
  • But the application: All the people think its that Paul shouldn’t go
  • But Paul says – No I’m going…
    • This is prophetic and from Jesus
    • But Application is I AM supposed to go
    • God is preparing me (has been for a few weeks)
• Notice how different Pauls-Agubus relationship is from Israel-Moses
  • All to say – when we talk about prophecy in NT (new age)
  • Don’t necessarily think audible voice of God
  • We mean something else – But still something beautiful

Now lets turn to 1 Corinthians – Start to work thru it

1 Cor. 14:1

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.

Remember that this phrase “Gifts of the Spirit” is one work in Greek

• Pnumatikos – Means “Spirituals” or “Stuff the Spirit does”
  • So eagerly desire all the stuff the Spirit does – Especially prophecy
  • Reason word “Gift” needs to be out of our thinking
    • Must understand prophecy here open to all Jesus followers
    • Not just those who have the “Gift of Prophecy”
      • In Romans/Ephesians it does talk of a GIFT of prophecy
      • We read in the early church about prophets
• We have 2 distinct things described in the NT– Prophecy & Prophets
  • Prophecy: This is open to anybody b/c it is a manifestation of H.S.
    • If u follow Jesus – This is for you
    • As the Spirit leads us to what he wants to do
  • Prophets: Romans 12/Eph 4 – Some of u… the way God wired you
    • God made you this way
    • You have a natural ability to be a prophet
• I think we even see this in people who don’t know Jesus
  • See it in Musicians/Film Makers/Novelists – Even some Psychics
  • People who have a unique ability to see/hear the spiritual
    • Why people can operate in Romans 12 gifts – w/o the H.S.
    • Because the gifts of Romans 12 are how you were created
    • And you can use that for God – or the world
  • Look at the other gifts here – All can be seen outside H.S.
    • Encouragement: Can a non-Christian be an encourager
    • Serving: There r tons – don’t know Jesus that love to serve
    • Could say same about teaching, generosity, leaders, mercy

All that to say what we see in 1 Cor – This is prophecy open to everyone

• Question becomes what does Paul mean by prophecy

Greg Haslim

Prophecy is a phenomenon that results directly from the access the Holy Spirit has to our minds, whereby he can create pictures in our imagination and supernatural dreams while we are asleep. He can put words, ideas or scriptures into our heads with such force that we know that there is something with it that carries the responsibility to pass on and relay what the Holy Spirit has communicated.

• So then – How do we receive it???
  • Prophecy doesn’t usually come as audible voice of God (it can)
  • Usually how it comes is by impressions
• Examples
  • Scripture (common) – Praying for u and this verse came to mind
  • Word/Phrase – Hope/Stop/Love/Freedom
  • Song – I love prophetic songs… one time
    • As strong as anything God put a worship song on my heart
    • Sunday driving to church
    • Shot out a text (not while driving – can’t lie… but voice text)
  • Picture – Especially if you are more visual
    • This is what I get a lot of the time
    • Because I’m visual… God speaks to u how he made you
    • You might just have a picture in your mind to share
  • Gut feeling – Sense that there is something off
    • Something about situation that we need to watch out for
    • What is that – Paranoia… maybe or Jesus
  • Maybe a sensation in your body (not in scripture – many feel this)
    • You for brief moment feel pain in ur body
    • It is a mirror of ongoing pain in someone else’s body
    • This is someone God wants to heal
  • Dream or Vision – Difference is dream (sleep) and vision (awake)
    • Not every dream is prophetic – Sometimes late night pizza
    • Sometimes it is from God – Like when I was going to Mexico
      • Vision is when u are awake – Almost daydreaming

Tag: Before talking about what to do when this happens…

Keep going through 1 Cor 14 – Learn a bit more

So prophecy is 1^st: Strengthening, encouragement and comfort

• And that is absolutely what the voice of God sounds like
  • Doesn’t mean there is never a rebuke from God (sin)
  • As general rule – Voice of God sounds like these three things
• Notice exact opposite of enemies voice in our heads (which happens)
  • Enemies voice isn’t strengthening – It’s guilt and shame
    • You are nobody/disgrace
    • You messed up to bad – Life is hopeless
    • No one loves you… church, family, friends
      • That is the voice of the enemy
  • Enemies voice isn’t encouraging… its discouraging
    • It’s never going to happen / Give up now
    • Enemy always sounds like you should quit
  • Enemies never sounds like comfort but fear
    • It is anxiety
    • It is worry
    • It is self-doubt
• Voice of God is exactly the opposite
  • Enemy will tear you down
  • God will build you up (edifies you)

And prophecy rarely about future (Can be – That’s in the New Testament)

• But most of the time it is about strength, encouragement, comfort
  • Even when it is about the future
  • Less about prediction and more about preparation
• Less like: This is gonna happen at this time in this place
  • More like: Hey here is what is coming
  • And in light of that… here is how you need to live
  • fd  In light of your future… here is what u need to do in the present

1 Cor 14:22-25

Tongues, then are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers (next week); prophecy however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”

• Notice Paul’s language: While everyone is prophesying
  • It says when prophecy is alive in a church setting
  • People who don’t know God will believe
  • Realize this isn’t just some academic pastime
    • This is aspect of church that Western world need to grow in
    • What I would love to see our church grow in
• How sad that some think that when Bible was finished
  • God dropped the mic and went on vacation
  • That’s all I got – See you at the 2^nd coming
  • No… God is still here… God is still speaking… Need His voice

But today’s prophecy isn’t something that is error free

1 Cor 14:26

What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up…

• Pauls church isn’t just a place to be a spectator – That isn’t church
  • You come – Give – Speak into each others lives – Pray together
  • Problem becomes “spontaneous participation” and lack of order
    • Church in Corinth was out of control
    • Why he goes on to say

1 Cor 14:32-33

The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace – as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.

1 Cor 14:39-40

Therefore my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

• So Paul begins and ends the chapter with “eagerness” to prophecy
  • But don’t do it in a weird way
  • There is an appropriate time/way to prophecy
  • You don’t just stand up in middle of a sermon – not orderly

Step back – Talk about how to do this

Template: Doesn’t have to work like this but good start

• First: Create space and listen
  • Take time during worship to do this
  • Take time during our closing prayer
  • Set apart time during the day
  • Learn to listen all day long
• Second: See what comes to mind
  • What do you hear
  • Is there a scripture/word/picture/sensation
• Third: Ask God for interpretation and application
  • God what does this mean
  • I see a picture of this… show me what this is
  • And show me what I should to do with it
    • Who is this for – Church as whole/family/friend/me
    • When is this for – Today/Next Sunday/Coffee next week
    • This happens here sometimes – Word given and weighed

Few thoughts on delivery

• Please don’t say: God said
  • There can be so much manipulation in those words / damaging
  • If you have audible voice or transcribed memo – Fine
    • Other than that please say something like “I have a sense”
    • I had this picture in prayer – Think its from God for you
    • Would you take it and test it
• Deliver it with 3 things: Humility, Courage and Love
  • Humility – Not “God says” because I’m just like Moses
    • I have a sense – Not sure if right – really believe its from God
  • Courage – This is not the easiest thing to do
    • Especially if its someone you don’t know well
    • Or don’t know at all
  • Love – Never prophecy in anger or pride or condescending tone
    • Other person should always feel strengthened/encouraged

How to receive a prophecy – As we close

1 Thess 5:19

Do not quinch the spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.

• Paul dealing with both sides of the spectrum
  • Don’t quench the spirit – How – Treating prophecy w/ contempt
    • When you hear a prophecy: “I don’t’ believe in that stuff”
    • It’s not even for today
      • Doing that – It’s quenching the Spirit
      • It’s ok to be skeptical – But stay open
  • On flip side – Test them all… Don’t just take it b/c they said it
    • I quit my job b/c so and so told me “God said” – NO!!!
    • Every prophecy is to be tested and “Weighed carefully”
      • Figure out if it is from God or part from God
        • Remember this is impression not audible voice
        • So there could be part that is right and sits well
        • Take that and throw out the rest
• Use these things to test prophecy
  • 1 – Does it line up with scripture (God doesn’t contradict himself)
  • 2 – Is it strengthening, encouraging and comforting
  • 3 – Does it confirm or correct what God is already saying to you
    • Most of the time it will confirm/correct what u already sense

Try it in this coming week – meeting with someone from church

• If you don’t do that already – You should start
  • Invite someone out to coffee/dinner
  • Go to your Life group
• This again shouldn’t feel like a weird thing
  • It is normal – Most have felt it… just didn’t know what it was
  • God wants to use it to change lives
  • So as Paul says: Eagerly desire it – Not for sake of a gift
    • But to be a part of what God wants to do on this Earth