Week 35: Last week we read about the gift of Miracles.
A Study on the Holy Ghost
̶ Week 35 of 38 ̶
By David Wilson
© 2017 by David Wilson
All rights reserved
The Gift of Prophecy
Prophecy is the greatest of the gifts in its class. Prophecy is for the edifying of the church. Prophecy is the foretelling of events that are to take place at some given time in the future.
2 Peter 1:20-21
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Exodus 4:12
Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.
1 Corinthians 14:1-5, 22-32 and 37-40
1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
5 I 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.
22 Wherefore 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.
23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
25 And 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.
26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
The way to tell if a “prophecy” is true is to wait and see if it comes to pass. The word prophesy can be defined as “to speak for God.” To prophesy is to yield as the Holy Ghost impresses upon one to speak the message God would have known. It can be a message of condemnation and judgment or of encouragement and hope. Prophecy of events to take place could be as short a time as a few hours or hundreds of years in the future. One important thing to remember: for prophecy to be truly fulfilled, it must be out of our control to bring it to pass. Prophecy must be God foretelling events that only He can bring to pass. If prophecies are given, and it’s in my or your power to cause its fulfillment, that isn’t prophecy. Prophecy deals with the present, sometimes, and the future most all of the time. We must be very careful in judging prophecy.
(Next week we will read about the gifts of tongues and interpretation.
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