Characteristics of Prophecy

Prophecy is the act of speaking out the mind of God, under Divine

inspiration.

Learning to ProphesyLTP Feb 10, 2016 2-2

• There are some very important points to keep in mind when we are prophesying.

• We need to observed them and stay in a humble attitude to become a clean instrument of the Lord.

• We need to learn how to become a “Voice of the Lord”.

• You don’t want to be an echo of other voices.

Prophecy will: Be in accordance with scriptures.

• 2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV)• 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful

for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

Prophecy will:Give glory to Jesus, The Son of God.

• 1 John 4:1-3 (NIV)• 4 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the

spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

Prophecy will: Edify, not destroy.

• Build the Body, make it whole; not causing division or strife.

• Ephesians 4:11-12 (NIV)• 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the

prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up

Prophecy will: Love the Sinner but hate sin.

• John 8:3-11 (NIV)• 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought

in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger.

Prophecy will: Love the Sinner but hate sin.

• 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Prophecy will: Convict, but not condemn.

• John 3:17 (NIV)• 17 For God did not send his Son into the

world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Prophecy will: Present The Lord as a solution, if faces a problem.

• Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)• 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably

more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Prophecy will: Not be controlling.

• 2 Timothy 2:24 (NIV)• 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be

quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.

Prophecy will: Stand the test of time.

• Deuteronomy 18:21-22 (NKJV)• 21 And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we

know the word which the LORD has not spoken?’— 22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.

Prophecy will: Be tested.

• 1 Corinthians 14:29 (NIV)• 29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the

others should weigh carefully what is said.

Prophecy will: Be a sign to the unbeliever.

• 1 Corinthians 14:24-25 (NIV)• 24 But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in

while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, 25 as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”

Prophecy will: Invite the person to grow.

• 1 Corinthians 14:3 (NIV)• 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people

for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.

Prophecy will: Be given in proportion to the Speaker’s faith.

• Romans 12:6 (NIV)• 6 We have different gifts, according to the

grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;

The Bible is the final word of God.

• The New Testament is our authority.• The NT endorses the Old Testament.• Both the NT and OT are the inspired Word of

God.• The whole bible is our measuring tool for all

teachings and prophecies.• The bible teaches what we should believe and

how we must live.

• All prophecies are stated in the bible.• Any prophecy that you and I or even a great

prophet may say, it is already in the bible.• Nothing can be added or taken away from the

bible.

Acts 2:16-18 (NKJV)

• 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:• 17 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,

That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,Your young men shall see visions,Your old men shall dream dreams.18 And on My menservants and on My maidservantsI will pour out My Spirit in those days;And they shall prophesy.

Your Journal:

• Have you ever find yourself saying things that you never wanted to say? Or maybe noticed that the manner in what you said hurt the listener?

• When you realized and reflected upon it, Was the Spirit of God pointing it out to you? r was a condemning feeling you were experiencing?

• Share with us something similar occurred to you.

We’ll continue next Wednesday February 17.

• In the meantime, I pray that the eyes of our hearts and understanding may be enlightened in order that we may know the hope to which He has called us, the riches of His glorious inheritance in us, His holy people. I pray that He open our eyes that we may see that are more the ones on our side than the ones of the adversary.God is good and His love endures for ever!