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Article 4 - May 4, 2004 |
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Again in this article, I have listed in the border,
three of the grace-gifts (charismata) that are listed within the 12th
chapter of our 1st Corinthian letter. The purpose in doing this is to be
as concise as possible and try and not become repetitive of things that I
have already explained at other places. Please refer to my articles on
"Miracles". Prophecy We come now to a misunderstood subject, brought about many times by a misunderstanding of the word "prophecy" itself. The word comes from a combination of two words which are, "pro" and the word "phami". The simplest definition of them being, when combined into the word translated "prophecy", is, "to speak forth". In this simple definition it is easy to see then that anyone who "speaks forth" could be said to be a prophet. In our context however, the word is used for a particular kind of "forth speakers". That is, those who speak forth due to the gift to do such, the gift being given by the Spirit of God. It is not to those who have sat in public speaking classes or attended "seminary". That is, it was not so in the early church. One of the best ways to remember what the word "prophet" means is to contrast it to the word "priest". A prophet in the New Testament church was one who "spoke forth" to men for God. A priest was one who spoke to God for men. These are two functions which each of us as Christians are to perform while traveling through this veil of tears, to the limit of the ability that we have. There is much said upon the subject of prophecy within the New Testament and especially within the letter to the Corinthians. The Corinthian Christians were to desire this gift above all others. 14:1 The one who does this "speaks to men" for
their upbuilding - encouragement-consolation. 14:3 A careful reading and study of this subject in the New Testament will convince open minds just how far we have gone from those days. What a pity! This gift then was given by God to enable members of the congregation to speak to their brothers and sisters when they were assembled. He gave them the ability and he gave them the message. They however were not like robots, as we see in 14:32, in that they were in control of how they exercised that which God had given them. This gift is no longer needful since we have the written word from which to speak to men for God. Although today, God expects us to use the written word as the message and the ability, in whatever measure, he has given to us, the floor, or pulpit, should always be open to any Christian who has a message for their brothers and sisters. That principle is clear from these verses we have noticed. Unfortunately and sadly, you will not observe this happening at many places. There is another sense in which the word "prophecy" is used in scripture, but it still has that basic meaning of "forth telling". There were persons within the early church who in their "forth telling" were also "foretelling" events that were yet to come. One such is found in the 21st chapter of the Book of Acts by the name of Agabus. He is on record as prophesying that Paul would be bound and delivered into the hands of the Gentiles. Of course, we know that eventually that was the case. There are still a few around who claim that they have this gift. The only problem is that every time they predict some event it turns out differently than what they predict. the instigator of Seventh Day Adventism prophesied that the end of the world would come on October 22, 1844. WRONG. Only recently, others prophesied that the end would come at the end of the second millennium. WRONG. This gift, like all the others mentioned in our study, were given at one specific time, for one specific purpose, to one specific people. When the purpose was realized, the time frame was over, and therefore we should not be led astray by those who lay claim to this gift today. God makes no mistakes!! Distinguishing between Spirits The last thing mentioned in this reading is "distinguishing between spirits". This would be the God given ability to know beyond any shadow of a doubt, when a person came into a local assembly, if he was from God or from somewhere else. In those days, there were many itinerant teachers who just wandered about, claiming that they were inspired by the Spirit of God. Many of these taught things that were perverse and wicked, under the umbrella of grace, and sought to make disciples of their own. How were the new disciples to know who was from God and who was not? They had no New Testament such as we do today to point out evil and wickedness. Most of them were at the time, and had always been, in a heathen environment where anything and everything was considered to be alright. So, how could they know? The little books of John are written to combat just such teachings and such teachers, but until such a time as they had instruction, there was a gift given by the Spirit of God that would tell them immediately concerning the different spirits who where wandering around as to their soundness or their corruption. Today, no such gift is needed; consequently, no such gift is given. We today possess the New Testament scriptures which "are inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. II Timothy 3:16-17 R.S.V. In studying these things, I pray that you will expand your study even farther and deeper than just these articles. These articles are written with the hope and prayer that they will stimulate you to do just that. God Bless and I would love to hear from you,
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