Sermon Guide for later this afternoon.
RJ: What is prophecy? What is prophesying?
Oftentimes we associate it with the future. True enough,
In Acts 2, the events we know now as Pentecost happened… and in Acts 2:14-21 Peter was quoting a fulfillment of prophecy, stated in Joel 2:28-32:
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:
17 “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;
18 even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
20 the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’Acts 2:14-21
In verse 17 in particular, we read that both the young and the old shall see visions and dream dreams.
It just so happened that we went through the book of Daniel, and his encounters with kings who both had dreams, and visions.
In the case of Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams, one was for the far future, and one was a warning for the present, which manifested in the more recent future.
In the case of Belshazzar’s vision of the writing on the wall, well, it was for the immediate future.
And Daniel had his own dreams and visions, which were for the far further future.
A nice lady friend of mine brought a teaching to my attention – one which revolved around Joseph in the book of Genesis. I couldn’t help it, I went through the book of Genesis myself (during the recent brownout, which I believe was the best use of my time), read through Genesis 37-50, and, well, we read that Daniel wasn’t the only dreamer in the house.
The Butler and the Baker both dreamed, Joseph interpreted, and it came to pass.
Pharaoh dreamed, Joseph interpreted, and it came to pass.
As a child, Joseph dreamed of the sun, moon and the stars bowing before him, and true enough, he was eventually promoted to being second only the God-King Pharaoh.
Joseph dreamed of his brothers’ sheaves of grain bowing before him, and true enough, they themselves bowed before him during their first trip to Egypt to buy grain.
In both cases, they spoke of the future – either from their own dreams, or from the visions of others.
But is the focus really on the future?
I mean, we’ve been saying that this year has been a year of revelations. Was I therefore saying that we’d be prophets as well, speaking of the future?
‘Prophesy’ in the Greek New Testament book of Acts is: prophēteuō (prof-ate-yoo’-o / From G4396; to foretell events, divine, speak under inspiration, exercise the prophetic office: – prophesy.).
In the Hebrew Old Testament book of Joel it is: nâbâ’ (naw-baw’ A primitive root; to prophesy, that is, speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse): – prophesy (-ing) make self a prophet.)
So as you can see prophesying is not merely prediction, or foretelling events. It is also to speak, or even to sing under inspiration.
And who is the source of the inspiration? It is the Holy Spirit.
And how do you know you’re inspired from the Holy Spirit?
26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. John 15:26
3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:3
14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.John 16:14
If you ultimately bear witness to Jesus Christ, His finished work, His words, and/or His lordship, that’s from the Holy Spirit.
‘Well, what about that set of verses you love to quote, John 16:8-11?’
8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.John 16:8-11
The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin to those who do not believe, that they may come to yearn for a Savior.
The Holy Spirit convicts the world of judgment to the ruler of the world, to remind the ruler of this world that he shall be subdued and dominated by a Lord.
The Holy Spirit convicts the world of righteousness to us who do not see Him, to remind us that He is with us, He will never leave us, and we are with Him, and because we are with Him, the Father is with us.
So take it any way you like – Savior, Lord, or Presence – How do you know you’re convicted by the Holy Spirit? When the Holy Spirit convicts and points to Jesus.
We see another ‘guideline’, if you would, in the conversations prior to Peter’s words:
5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”Acts 2:5-13
Whatever language you’re speaking, if you’re speaking from the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, you are speaking the mighty works of God.
In John 14:9, Jesus says, ‘Whoever has seen me has seen the Father‘; We speak of Christ’s finished work, and are also proclaiming the mighty works of the Father.
Again, if you ultimately bear witness to Jesus Christ, His finished work, His words, and/or His lordship, that’s from the Holy Spirit.
And it’s not just for the future, but also for the present, and for the past.
Even in the Old Testament, Daniel spoke to Nebuchadnezzar, and the king’s response was nothing less than extravagant:
46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him. 47 The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.” 48 Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. Daniel 2:46-48
When Joseph spoke to Pharaoh, we see similar results:
37 This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. 38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. Genesis 41:37-39
‘Flow, Trust God, Thank God’. That’s been something of a mantra as of late, and it was something I prayed for, meditated on, and sought the Lord for. I wanted something to tell myself 40 years earlier, and 40 years later.
Prophecy and revelation are for us and for others to see Jesus.
And since Jesus is the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last, I dare say:
Prophecy and revelation isn’t just for the future, but also for our past, and for our present.
21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
Acts 2:21
24 The LORD bless you and keep you;
25 the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
26 the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26
171030/365000
JB's Personal Brain Defragmenter 
Leave a comment