Prophecy Part 4: Practical Helps
October 31, 2021      |     By: Jonathan Brickley      |      Category: Sermons      |      Location: El Dorado
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Prophecy - Difficult and Valuable

Jack Deere - “Beginners Guide to the Gift of Prophecy”
Steve Thomson - “You All May Prophesy”

Old Testament Prophetic Ministry = Mostly Corporate
New Testament Prophetic Ministry = Mostly Personal

Acts 15:32 (NIV)
32 Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers.

Helping Saints to live Normally:
Follow the Holy Spirit
Romans 8:14 (NIV)
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

Hear the Shepherd’s Voice
John 10:4 (NIV)
4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.

Common Means of Revelation
1) Primary - Bible
2) Audible Voice to Your Ears
3) “Internal" Audible Voice
4) Sentence Fragments/Words
5) A “knowing”/Word of Knowledge
6) Impressions - Less Certain than inner knowing
7) Dream, Vision, Trance
8) Physical Manifestation in Bodies

Revelation - What was Said
Interpretation - What it Means
Application - What we Do about it
> All three in every prophecy
> All three needed to be “right”, to be truly beneficial

Errors & Mistakes vs False Prophecy
“Flowers for Valentine’s Day”
True Revelation - Incorrect Interpretation - Right Application

Correction Taught Humility

Acts 21:3-4, 8-14 (NIV)
3 After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria. We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo.
4 We sought out the disciples there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.
8 Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven.
9 He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.
10 After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
11 Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’”
12 When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.
13 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
14 When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”

Revelation - The Owner of the Belt would be Imprisoned
Interpretation - Paul Would probably Die for his faith
Application –
#1 (incorrect) Luke, the Disciples & prophetic family = “DONT GO!”
#2 (correct) - Paul = “I’m Ready”

Who Speaks to Us?
- God
- Ourselves
- Others
- The Devil

How Do We Test?

1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 (To examine carefully, determine whether something is genuine or not)

1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 (NIV)
19 Do not quench the Spirit. 
20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt
21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 
22 reject every kind of evil.

1 Corinthians 14:29 (Discriminate, separate, make distinction, give judgement, examine carefully)
1 Corinthians 14:29 (NIV)
29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.

1) Bible - Be Good Berean’s
- Any Contradiction = Discard!

2) The Character of the Voice
- Producing Hope or Despair?
- Bringing Peace/Clarity or Terror/Confusion?
- Loving Conviction or Condemning Accusation?

3) The Lasting Fruit
- Fruit of the Spirit
- Write it Down

4) Constant Use/Practice
- Produces Discernment!

Hebrews 5:14 (NIV)
14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

How Do We Cultivate / Pursue?
- Humility
- Prayer
- Knowledge of the Word
- Pursuing Friendship with God
- Practice & Risk/Fellowship in Prophetic Community