Prophecy
2Pe 1:21 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. 2Pe 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2Pe 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
The double-edged sword of prophecy is deadly. The intent and content of prophecy is so powerful that it determines the course of the world. No one escapes a word spoken by God unless God Himself changes it by His grace. The fulfilment of prophecy in intent and content is sure unless changed by God. This is the true foundation of prophecy. When God asked Isaiah to prophecy over the impending demise of King Hezekiah, God changed the prophecy by extending his life 15 years. However, God will never change most prophecies because of its nature. For example, the birth of Jesus is one such prophecy and so we can be sure of the prophecies of His return based on the same principle. This is the more sure word of prophecy.
The other side of the sword of prophecy is the falsity associated with it that men attribute to it. Men use false prophecy for gain of varying nature. Some men will prophecy for power while others will do it for financial gain. Yet, others prophecy foolishly (soothsaying) thinking they can do so without detriment of judgement to themselves. Handling the word of God deceitfully acts as a double-edged sword. Firstly, it will divide between the soul and spirit of man and secondly it will convict and expose the thoughts and intents of the heart.
True prophecy will give reason and purpose to life. When the angel Gabriel gave Mary a word about her impending pregnancy and the nature of the child within her, it gave her reason and purpose for her life. As I have said several times before, you are not an accident. Prophetically speaking you have a destiny in God that is purposeful and meaningful. Maybe, you have never discovered this part of your life. You may be a good Christian who loves the Lord and goes about doing what you think needs doing according to the word but you can also miss the point to your life. I meet many Christians whose lives have passed them by as they try to figure out why they are on this earth.
The first thing one should discover about oneself is, you are here on planet earth for a reason. That reason is fulfilled in prophecy over your life. To discover that prophecy over your life, you have to seek God. If prophecy has already been spoken over you or revealed to you, then you need to pray and act upon it. Many do not act upon the word over their lives because they think that it is up to God to do what is necessary. Personal prophecy is like a gift. It is has to be received and then activated.
It is this side to prophecy that many do not understand. They hear the word and do not act upon it. They have believed that they do not need to act. This has caused many a seed of prophecy to fall to the ground unfulfilled. There are prophecies of God that need faith acts on the part of the individual to have them fulfilled. Abraham had to receive the word and then do faith acts. He had to walk the length and breadth of the land that was to be possessed by his seed.
What also needs understanding is that there are prophecies of God that have their own force of fulfilment. No matter what happens, they will be fulfilled. For example, Joseph had two prophetic dreams that eventuated without his doing anything about it.
There are several types of prophecy in the Bible that we must understand so that, we do not get confused.
1. Personal prophecy - Is a word spoken over you about you. It could be destiny related or something to do with you personally regarding your future.
2. Prophetic utterance/preaching - These are words spoken by prophets about what God wants them to speak about, to people/churches/nations.
3. Prophecy concerning Jesus - These are specific to Jesus relating to events before His birth and after His resurrection
4. Prophetic warnings - Words of warning that are released to anyone individually or collectively (groups, churches or nations) of impending danger or a fall
5. Prophecy about the end times. - These are specific to the end times that have been spoken and written from before the foundation of the world
All prophecy must be Holy Spirit inspired for it to have validity. In other words, God Himself should have given that word for it to have value and fulfilment. It is evident that any individual who prophecies in his own strength is a false prophet even if he is a man of God. It is possible for a man of God to be in the Spirit and then switch to the flesh. This happens because he is human. That is why, it is important to have all prophecy confirmed by God at least twice, especially when it pertains to your own life. Many have launched out by listening and acting upon unconfirmed prophecy over their lives only to be hopelessly dashed upon the rocks of false hope of achieving their perceived destiny through prophecy.
It is important for us to understand prophecy in the scheme of things (God's plans) concerning the existence of this world and our existence in it. Prophecy has been fulfilling itself through the ages and man has been mostly discovering it after the fact. The whole point about prophecy is to receive it before it occurs. For example; if there is a prophecy about a Tsunami coming to your town, you need to act upon it and leave town. On the other hand, the prophecy about the soon return of Jesus requires us to prepare our hearts for His coming. What if, that particular prophecy, is not for our generation? Then, one must prepare their heart to meet their Maker anyway as you will surely die. Either way, you will meet the Lord.
I am convinced about the role of prophecy in our lives. I seek it because it is the will of God in the first instance. Secondly, it is the only thing with value that can be trusted. By this I mean, it is a sure word. 2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
So, whatever the revealed word of God says; it shall surely come to pass. By this we can partake of the divine nature and promises of God 2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Promises are prophesied words. In fact, all words of God are prophecy. That is to say, it shall not return to Him void. If you can understand this, you will receive all His words as pertaining to life in the now and in the future. Applying them in context to your own situation and putting it into perspective with regard to world events is a matter for the Holy Spirit to reveal to you. He is the one who reveals all truth and all secrets. Each new day will bring something from Him that is glorious even in the midst of evil. This is because He lives in His own atmosphere and penetrates all realms of this universe. There is no place in heaven, hell, or earth that He cannot go to. He is Lord of all. Soon, we will be in glory with Him but right now, we have a task to undertake. Prophetic change has happened to us as a church for the best. So, let us take hold of this change in love and truth and practise a more glorious walk with Him. I sense a great breakthrough has taken place in the spiritual atmosphere over us. Now, we will see greater realms of His glory. Let us prepare our hearts so that the Holy Spirit can guide us to stay in the word of God.
What should you take away with you from today’s teaching?
1. You are not an accident you have been prophesied. You have a purpose.
2. God has a plan for you and that His plan is good Jer 29.11
3. You are being watched over by God
4. He is the one leading you if you will allow Him Ps 32.8
5. You are to seek God and know what it is that He has prepared for you along the way as much He has prepared the end
a. The end does not reveal the journey 1 Cor 2.9,10
6. In spite of prepared places and God watching over you, it is up to you to believe, trust and wait on God to bring you to that place each time
7. He has offered, you must accept. The price is surrender which is, covenanting with God
8. He is taking you from glory to glory unimaginable in a prophetic sense
Paul would have us seek gifts but rather that we prophesy. Prophecy edifies the church and prepares it. Furthermore, prophecy is life giving words from God that one can live by. Prophecy determines destiny and direction. It is a good thing when prophecy is established in the word.
May God open the eyes of your understanding and give you all knowledge of His Son Jesus whose testimony is the Spirit of prophecy. Through this, we can overcome the devil. It is has been declared and decreed that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church. The Head of the Church has Himself prophesied this and declared it and so it shall be, Amen.
With love
Pastor Noble
15/03/2015