October 2017
c) Gift of Prophesy
1 Cor14:3 -“One who prophesies speaks to people
for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. ”
Prophecies are used for edification, exhortation and
comfort. But today we find that prophecies are mostly used
for comforting others. Many prayer meetings have become
prophecy meetings. People would gather for prayer and
somebody would start prophesying. There will be two or
three people who immediately record that prophecy. We
should not be led by false prophesies. We must learn to test
them. We must filter everything in the light of the Word of
God. We must constantly ask ourselves, 'What does the
Bible say?'
When the teacher of the Law asked Jesus what he
must do to inherit eternal life, Jesus shot back with another
question, 'What is written in the Law?' (Luk 10:26).
Never deviate from the Bible. There are so many new
experiences like slaying in the spirit, laughing in the spirit
and all such funny things. We must be careful about all these
experiences which do not find any direct reference in the
Scriptures.
The Lord Jesus said that every tree shall be known by
its fruits. Since we are living in the last days, let us be careful
not to be deceived by such strange experiences.
4) Reformation In Handling God's Word
2 Ti 2:15 - “Do your best to present yourself to God
as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed,
rightly handling the word of truth.”
Just like the two sides of the coin, there are always two
sides for the Biblical truth. All the truths in the Bible are in
the form of couplets. We will find a corresponding and
balancing verse for every truth. For example, gifts and fruits;
sovereignty and human responsibility; faith and works etc.
We must know to balance such truths. We cannot
overemphasize one over the other. Note how Apostle Paul
beautifully structured the teachings of the gifts and fruits. In
First Corinthians 12th chapter and 14th chapter, we read
about the gifts of the Spirit whereas in the 13th chapter we
read about the fruit of the Spirit.
1 Cor 13:1,2 - “If I speak in the tongues of men and of
angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging
cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all
mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to
remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”
Here we find that without love all the gifts are simply
of no use. When you are invited to speak in a congregation or
church, never try to please them. When you talk about the
ministry do not forget the family. When you preach about
God's love never forget to mention His judgment. Any truth
in the Bible has to be correctly divided or balanced.
Bible meditation and prayer is another area of
emphasis. We should not sideline one at the cost of other.
During the early days, I used to pray a lot and did not give
much importance to Bible meditation. Then I realized that I
need to balance my prayer life with that of Bible meditation.
Word and Worship is yet another area to be balanced.
There are many churches which spend more than an hour in
worship but give very less time for the exposition of the
Word of God.
Apostle Paul said, “I did not shrink from declaring to
you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27).
We must declare the 'whole counsel' of the Lord to the
people. If we don't, then people might be confused. If we
give much emphasis for tithing and forget mercy and love,
we would be in trouble. It is for this very reason Jesus
rebuked the Pharisees.
When the devil tempted the Lord, He replied saying,
'It is written..' But when the devil again used the word 'for it
is written..' quoting the Scriptures, Jesus once again replied
saying, 'It is also written' (Mat 4:4-7).
We must not only know 'It is written' but also know 'It
is also written.' Compare the Scripture with the Scripture.
When a preacher builds a doctrine on one single verse, do not
be carried away by it. Compare with other Scriptures as what
is being revealed as the whole truth in the Bible.
GOD WANTS US TO PULL DOWN STRUCTURES
THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT WITHOUT THE
APPROVAL OF GOD'S WORD. ANYTHING
THAT IS NOT FOUND IN GOD'S WORD HAS TO
BE PULLED OUT.
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