Thought for Today March 14, 2018: Topic - Is Prophecy Still a Spiritual Gift?
Is Prophecy Still a Spiritual Gift?
Acts 11:27-28
During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world (This happened during the reign of Claudius).
Thoughts for Today:
When was the last time that someone in your church "stood up and through the Spirit predicted..." anything? I think we have become so terrorized by our fear of the supernatural that we have lost this very valuable spiritual gift. Yet, 1 Corinthians 14:1 tells us, "Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy." Paul (the author of 1 Corinthians), goes on in verse 3 to say, "...everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort." How do you think your church would react if someone (perhaps one of the church leaders), stood up and spoke in the Spirit of a coming economic depression -- similar to what happened in our passage today?
This whole business of prophesy is tricky ground. On one hand it is a very valuable spiritual gift -- wouldn't it be nice to know something bad was going to happen so you could prepare properly? On the other hand we humans have a tendency to look for our answers in people, rather than in the Lord or the Word. In the early church, prophets spoke revelation from the Spirit (1 Corinthians 14:29-30), usually in terms of edification and encouragement (1 Corinthians 14:3, 31), and even fundamental doctrine (Ephesians 3:4-5). But occasionally their ministry included prediction. (This prophecy was probably made before the reign of Claudius (AD 41-54)and, as Scripture says, fulfilled sometime during his reign.)
Questions to Ponder:
Prompted by the Spirit, Agabus makes a prediction. If the same thing happened today, how do you think we would react? How would you react? I think two of the biggest problems we have in our society is either being too cynical or too susceptible (too much of anything is usually unhealthy -- we need balance).
If someone made a prediction, what would be some of the "qualifiers" you would use before you considered it prophesy from the Spirit of God? Once you had tested the prophecy, what would be your next action? Would you believe it and act upon it as if it was "truth"? Why or why not?
Is Prophecy Still a Spiritual Gift?
Acts 11:27-28
During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world (This happened during the reign of Claudius).
Thoughts for Today:
When was the last time that someone in your church "stood up and through the Spirit predicted..." anything? I think we have become so terrorized by our fear of the supernatural that we have lost this very valuable spiritual gift. Yet, 1 Corinthians 14:1 tells us, "Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy." Paul (the author of 1 Corinthians), goes on in verse 3 to say, "...everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort." How do you think your church would react if someone (perhaps one of the church leaders), stood up and spoke in the Spirit of a coming economic depression -- similar to what happened in our passage today?
This whole business of prophesy is tricky ground. On one hand it is a very valuable spiritual gift -- wouldn't it be nice to know something bad was going to happen so you could prepare properly? On the other hand we humans have a tendency to look for our answers in people, rather than in the Lord or the Word. In the early church, prophets spoke revelation from the Spirit (1 Corinthians 14:29-30), usually in terms of edification and encouragement (1 Corinthians 14:3, 31), and even fundamental doctrine (Ephesians 3:4-5). But occasionally their ministry included prediction. (This prophecy was probably made before the reign of Claudius (AD 41-54)and, as Scripture says, fulfilled sometime during his reign.)
Questions to Ponder:
Prompted by the Spirit, Agabus makes a prediction. If the same thing happened today, how do you think we would react? How would you react? I think two of the biggest problems we have in our society is either being too cynical or too susceptible (too much of anything is usually unhealthy -- we need balance).
If someone made a prediction, what would be some of the "qualifiers" you would use before you considered it prophesy from the Spirit of God? Once you had tested the prophecy, what would be your next action? Would you believe it and act upon it as if it was "truth"? Why or why not?
Thought for Today March 14, 2018: Topic - Is Prophecy Still a Spiritual Gift?
Reviewed by Muyiwa Abodunrin (Muyilight)
on
March 14, 2018
Rating:
Reviewed by Muyiwa Abodunrin (Muyilight)
on
March 14, 2018
Rating:
No comments: