1 Corinthians 12:10 - Part B

Prophecy all said in chapter 14 speaks edification and exhortation or comfort. So it's either to build up sister is been a lot of confusion surrounding the spiritual gift of prophecy today on connect with Skip Heitzig Skip clears up some of that confusion and shares with you some characteristics about this important spiritual gift before we begin to know that Scripture important updates and biblical encouragement on social media just followed on Facebook, twitter and Instagram to get the latest from him in this ministry that Skip Heitzig Skip HITZI think the attendant we are passionate about helping you strengthen your walk with God, and you can be a part of connecting others to Jesus in the same way with the gift to help keep these teachings. You live on the air just call 892 1888 at 819 to 18 or visit connectwithskip.com/donate.connectwithskip.com/donate. Thank you.

Okay will in first Corinthians chapter 12 as we get into the teaching with Skip Heitzig when Paul refers to the gift of prophecy sees that banking be like Isaiah the prophet Ezekiel, the prophet Daniel and predict things in the future know there's no more written revelation like the Scripture ever gets over that's done But there are some particulars for a New Testament prophet now in the book of acts. There was a guy by the name of and a bus. Ever hear that name in chapter 21 of the book of acts. Oedipus was in Caesarea.

He was a prophet and he did speak the future. He did foretell the future. He is called a prophet. So what he did when Paul came to town to Caesarea. He took Paul's belt that was around his waist took it off. Paul, in the presence of everybody magic is region over and thinks he is meatball from yanking his belt, ties his own hands and feet with it and then he says, thus says the Holy Spirit. This is what's gonna happen to this man, just like I am bound the man who owns this belt will be bound in Jerusalem. If he goes. What was Paul's belt to look to Paul about as yet.

That's my belt and got back to prophecy that I'm to be down so they said Paul, please, please don't go.

You heard what the prophet said the prophet said if you go to Jerusalem, they cannot hurt you and bind you. And he's high liberty setting what you mean by weeping and breaking my heart.

I am ready not only to be down, but to be killed for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. I don't care if I get down in Jerusalem. I'm going so did make God blessed because I'm out of here. You don't stop man like that and he went to Jerusalem and he did get bound. The prophecy did come to pass, but when we get to first Corinthians 12 and 13 and 14 and it speaks about the gift of prophecy.

There certain things you need to know number one prophecy in the New Testament usually was a direct word from God.

Don't confuse the gift of prophecy with preparing a sermon at some some commentators like to say all that she is the gift of preparing a sermon and giving up giving a message that's that's modern-day prophecy know it's not the gift of prophecy is a direct word for a particular time that is not associated with preparation or normal human intellectual acquisition. It's a direct word from the Lord for a particular situation. How do I know that because in acts chapter 13 it differentiates between teachers those who prepare sermons and teach them and prophets says there was in Antioch at the time, prophets and teachers, and I says, as they ministered to the Lord, and fasted the Lord said, the Holy Spirit said separate and me Paul and Barnabas for the work where I have called so that begs the question, how did the Holy Spirit speak that that word no doubt through one of the prophets because they are listed prophets and teachers. Somebody spoke a word, just as the Holy Spirit separate annuities to Bollenbach Barnabas for the work I've called to do so. They laid hands on them and they sent them off. That was a word of prophecy.

So number wanted to direct word from God for particular situation number two, New Testament prophecy is clear speech, clear speech that needs no interpretation whatsoever.

That's why it's different from tongues.

I'm saying this and and I'm belaboring this for this reason, if you have an Assemblies of God background, you are taught in that church that tongues plus interpretation equals prophecy that is incorrect. They say tongues is a message from God, and somebody will speak it and then when somebody can interpret that message from God, it becomes prophecy know tongues and prophecy are completely different now. I know that were jumping the gun a little bit but turned to chapter 14 for a moment and you'll see that I want you to see that so by the time we go over it. You'll Artie know this stuff you be experts in this verse one chapter 14 pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy for he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, there's no message in tongues from God.

That's wrong that's that's inaccurate who he was, speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him. However, in this spirit he speaks mysteries, but he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.

He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but you prophesies edifies the church.

That's the advantage of prophecy over Tom's. It engages the mind engages the understanding somebody speaks a word that all of us are a message. All of us can understand tongues does not do that. Tongues bypasses the intellect, because you speak in a tongue unless you have the gift of interpretation.

You don't know what is being said so. Prophecy then is a direct word from God. It is clear speech because it's clear speech you can build up the believer can convict the unbeliever because it's understood number three third aspect of New Testament prophecy New Testament prophecy is controllable by the one who operates this gift. It is controllable.

It's not that you getting this some ecstatic state some altered state of consciousness and then all of a sudden all my children in some weird voice it's controllable turnover to chapter 14 you're already in chapter 4, to look at verse 29 a look at how he says this should be regulated in an assembly led to or three prophets speak. Let the others judge. But if anything is revealed to another who sits by letting first keep silent.

So it's controllable one at a time. Not all talking together for you can all prophesy one by one, that you may learn and all may be encouraged spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

There is you have control you can speak you can decide not to speak. It's not that you get into some weird altered state of reality.

You get the impulse from the Lord you're about to speak. You can do it one at a time. The spirit of the prophet is subject to the prophets, take fourth characteristic of New Testament prophecy. It is not gender specific. That is, is not for men only. Only men can speak words of prophecy. Men and women can speak words of prophecy. By the way, you should know this. In the Old Testament there were prophets, but there were also prophetesses that many of them, but there were some Miriam, the sister of Moses was a prophetess in the book of Exodus, Deborah, one of the judges of Israel in Judges chapter 4 and five. Deborah was called a prophetess, and she did prophesy cool.in Kings chapter 22 was called a prophetess in the temple of the Lord, the wife of Isaiah. Isaiah was a prophet but in one section of Isaiah Mrs. Isaiah is called a prophetess, very convenient for a profit to be married to a prophetess have similar gifts. I don't know how that work stereo prophesying of some kind, but I think that's cool when you get to the New Testament in acts 21 again. I made reference to when Paul went to Caesarea, it says at Caesarea. Paul stayed with a guy by the name of Philip. We read about him in the book of acts. Philip is has had for virgin daughters who prophesied for virgin daughters, all of them had the gift of prophecy is pretty cool Isaiah had stereo prophecy. This is Quadra phonic. Also, if you go back to Chapter 11 for just a moment.

Notice this verse five.

Chapter 11 covers for every man who praying or prophesying, having his head cover dishonors his head, but every woman who prays or prophesies. So there it gives allowance in the church of the New Testament for prophecy to come to men or through women, so it's not gender specific. I think that's an important nuance to get also to add to that acts chapter 2, quoting the prophecy of Joel Peter says this is that which was spoken of by the prophet Joel who said in the last days I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh.

Your sons and your daughters will prophesy, so there it is.

It is not gender specific. What is the gift of prophecy for three things will get to it in chapter 14, but I just read it to you in the first few verses of chapter 14 he who speaks of prophecy. Paul said in chapter 14 speaks edification, exhortation, or comfort.

So it's either to build up to stir up or to cheer up, it's a word from God that will build up stir up or cheer up an individual. So if somebody comes and is very condemning. I have the gift of prophecy. Both serve the Lord all my children are bunch of idiots on the throw that person out or save button it up if it's in a meeting where that is practiced because it's going to be edification, exhortation, or comfort in a build up in the stir up it's gonna cheer up. Perhaps the best book that I've read on this is up from a systematic theology book by Guy Dunfield, and Dr. Annette Van Cleave listen to what they say.

Normally in the operation of the gift of prophecy. This spirit anoints the believer to speak forth to the body, not premeditated words, but the spirit supplies spontaneously to uplift and encourage insight to faithful obedience and service, and to bring comfort and consolation. The words need not be an archaic English oh thou my children I speak with under the speak normal talk, nor in a loud or altered voice nor spoken in the first person. In other words, it's normal. It's natural, but it's an impulse given by the Holy Spirit for edification, exhortation, and comfort. Okay will get more as we get into chapter 14. That's enough for the gift of prophecy.

Next on the list we get it we gotta move this thing along. I gotta move this thing along. So, to another prophecy, verse 10, to another discerning of spirits. I have always thought I have long thought that one of the things lacking one of the values, characteristics, lacking in the modern church today in general is discernment that Christians can tend to be so gullible that anybody who slaps the name of Jesus on anything any superstar who says God. God bless you at an award ceremony or mentions the main man. Jesus that all of a sudden we welcoming them into the church. There are ranks there born again and and wit were just dumb when it comes to that.

We need discernment first John chapter 4.

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. Jesus said, beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. So we are warned over and over again to use discernment to be to be wise when it comes to people giving us a message or giving us some idea that their followers of the Lord. We need to learn to discern okay so that's generally discernment on top of general discernment which we should all have every Christian in him in a mature state should have.

Beyond that, there is a gift of discernment. A gift of discernment is the ability to discern between good and evil, between spirits, good and evil spirits in a particular situation. The you might otherwise have no knowledge about what the Lord reveals it to you and fortunately we have examples of that in the book of acts, so for example here's an example enough to turn to ask you know it so well in acts chapter 5 Peter is given a word of knowledge and the discerning of spirits.

Together these gifts sometimes operate in pairs or in triads you work together. He gets a word of knowledge and he gets the discernment of spirits. When Ananias comes to the church of Peter turns to Mrs. Ananias, why is Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit ever lied to men you've lied to God.

He had a word of knowledge that Ananias was not truthful and he had the gift of discerning of spirits that the motivation was Satan filled his heart. The light of the Holy Spirit. That's the gift and operation me show you something even plainer than that turned acts chapter 8, acts chapter 8 if you don't want to turned acts that break as I don't hear a lot of Bibles fluttering all just read it to you but acts chapter 8 is a good example in acts chapter 8, the church is persecuted in Jerusalem because there persecuted they scatter they go everywhere else in the sum of and go north to the city of Samaria. So verse five, Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preach Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did for unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice came out of many who were possessed many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. There was great joy in that city.

But there was a certain man called Simon who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonish the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great doing.

They all gave heed from the least to the greatest thing this man is the great power of God, and they hated him because he had astonish them with his sorceries for a long time when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God in the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. Then Simon himself also believe, and when he was baptized. He continued with Philip and was amazed, seeing the miracles and the signs which were done. Philip had the gift of miracles and he had the gift of evangelism. He was very successful. What he did not have was the gift of discernment of spirits. It says that this man Simon believed, but the belief was not saving faith. It was bandwagon faith is all joy, and all of all tagalong with this we find out that it's because the limelight was no longer on him because of what he said he's the great power of God.

But now this guy does miracles Philip and limelight is now in Philip Nottingham so he conveniently believes but watch this now when the apostles were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit for as yet he had fallen upon none of them they'd only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Then they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.

Now when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles hands, the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, give me this power also anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit. But Peter said to him your money perish with you because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money. You have neither part nor portion in this matter. For your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of your wickedness and pray God is perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven. You wound.

He had the gift of discernment. Philip of the gift of miracles in evangelism, not discernment.

Now, the apostles, they have discernment they know there's a motivation underlying that how would they know that Holy Spirit impressed that upon the and so they spoke that word out a few chapters later in the 13th chapter, Paul is on his first missionary journey and they first go to the island of Cyprus.

They go to one of the main towns in Cyprus. Solomon's and they encounter a guy by the name of the bar. Jesus great name son of Jesus, but he really was a son of the devil. So far, Jesus also called eleemosynary chapter Paul the apostle in seeing him says all full of deceit and fraud, you son of the devil. While all your have a like a bad hair day or something.

What up dude know he had the gift of the discerning of spirits, and he knew that this guy was out for a different motivation I give you one more example this one.

I want you to turn to and that's acts chapter 16 in acts chapter 16 they come to the city of Philippi. It is Paul the apostle again at the city of Philippi. Verse 16 chapter 16 verse 16.

Now it happened as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with the spirit of divination met us who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling this girl follow Paul and us, and cried out, these men are the servants of the most high God, who proclaimed to us the way of salvation, stop right there. That sounds pretty good. I mean if you want to put a PR person you want to hire her. These men were to tell you the truth, listen to what these guys at the great teacher salvation. What she is saying here is true. Great PR but keep going. Verse 18 and this she did for many days, but Paul greatly annoyed, turned and said to this spirit, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her and he came out that very hour, but when her master saw that the hope of profit was gone. They seize Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. Paul had the gift of the discernment of spirits, and here's the hard part.

If you ever have this gift.

The hard part is that it's so obvious to you, not to everybody else that will actually Skip a text message from the series expound first Karen to tell you about a resource that will help come alongside the hurting in our society. The United States that the devastating Civil War to overcome a deeply defining issue was of Jesus and people who represent his life. We can help one another deal with this topic today Skip hi taken Tony Clark speak to white evangelical pastors about how churches we can create spaces for black and brown voices to be heard in a loving atmosphere concerning the atmosphere find this moment because the racism is is a sin I now it's our job began to fail it to have a biblical mindset and also having sympathy and empathy for those who are trying them about this Christianity and their skin may be a little bit darker than yours cultivate the empathy that comes from gaining a biblical perspective on racism your copy of this conversation between Pastor Skip and Tony when you get $20 or more today will send you Pastor Skip spoke with the church and racism, call 819 to 1888, or get online securely connectwithskip.com/offer coming up tomorrow Skip hi to share startling insight about the spiritual gift of tongues is the gift of Thomas gift of tongues is a form of communication is a form of communication we discover in chapter 14 to God. Tom does not demand prayer directed to God. That's why some prayer language directing a prayer to God is not a message from God. Prayer to God