SUPERNATURAL #10: LAST DAYS PROPHETIC MINISTRY
INTRO TO TOPIC:
Today is our tenth week in our Supernatural Series in the Book of Acts.
OPENING TEXT:
“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 maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath… 21 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.” (Acts 2:16-21).
• God wants to pour out His Spirit on all believers so we can prophesy His Word.
• When we do this, multitudes of people will come to know Jesus as Saviour!
THE BIG IDEA: God is raising up the last days prophetic generation that Joel prophesied about. He wants us to become a prophetic people who hear His voice, and proclaim His living word to others. When we do this, people will be encouraged, comforted, and set free.
THREE EXAMPLES OF PROPHETIC PEOPLE IN ACTS:
1. STEPHEN:
• We first read Stephen’s story three weeks ago:
“But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” (Acts 7:55-56).
• When Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit, he engaged the prophetic realms of revelation:
• He saw an open Heaven, the glory of God, and a vision of Jesus
2. PHILIP:
• Review his story from two weeks ago: He was just a regular Christian who preached Christ, did many signs and wonders, people got saved, and there was great joy in the city.
• Let’s take a look at the second part of his story:
“So when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans. Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is desert.” (Acts 8:25-26).
• Here Philip too engaged the prophetic realms of revelation – he had an encounter with an angel. The angel spoke to him and gave him direction: “Arise and go…”
“So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go near and overtake this chariot." So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.” (Acts 8:27-31).
• Next, the Holy Spirit spoke to Philip and told him to go to the chariot.
• When Philip obeyed the Spirit, he had a God opportunity to minister to someone.
“Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.” (Acts 8:35-38).
• Because Philip was led by the Spirit, he had an opportunity to lead someone to the Lord.
• We need to learn to listen for that still small voice, and obey it!
3. ANANIAS:
• Note here is just another ‘regular’ disciple. None of these Christians who are seen here engaging the prophetic realm were pastors or preachers!
“Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." So the Lord said to him, "Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. And in a vision (Saul had a vision, too!) he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight." Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name." But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake." And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.” (Acts 9:10-20).
• We remember from Saul’s story last week that he was a religious zealot and a terrorist. Would he have come to faith in Jesus had it not been for this prophetic disciple, Ananias?
SUJMMARY:
Of how these three disciples engaged the prophetic realms of revelation:
• Open heavens - Stephen had a vision of the glory of God and Jesus
• Angelic visitations - Philip received direction from an angel
• Hearing the voice of God - the Lord spoke to both Philip and Ananias
• The result of these God encounters = people were saved!
I. THE BASICS OF PROPHECY:
1. PROPHECY REVEALS JESUS TO US – IT’S ABOUT KNOWING HIM MORE.
“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.” (Ephesians 1:17).
“Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (Revelation 19:10).
• Prophecy reveals our Heavenly Father’s heart to us – remember Stephen’s open Heaven.
2. PROPHETIC GIFTS BLESS AND BUILD UP THE CHURCH.
“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant…But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all…But earnestly desire the best gifts.” (1 Corinthians 12:1,7,31).
• God wants us to desire prophecy = be zealous for, pursue eagerly or intensely.
3. PROPHECY IS TO ENCOURAGE AND COMFORT PEOPLE:
“Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy…But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.” (1 Cor. 14:1,3).
• The purpose of prophecy: Edification, Exhortation and Comfort.
• NT Prophecy is not primarily predicting the future but building people up.
• How do you know if God is speaking to you to say or do something?
o Ask yourself: Will it encourage, build up or comfort them? If so, then do it!
• EXAMPLE: Driving past someone’s house last week – felt like I should call them. I didn’t, but I got a call from them the next day needed to get together.
• We need to learn how to listen to that still, small voice, so we can be used by Jesus:
• Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, I know them, they follow me.” (John 10:27).
II. WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU RECEIVE PERSONAL PROPHECY:
“Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21).
TEST THE WORD: To see if it is from the Lord
• Does it build up, encourage and comfort (1 Cor. 14:3)?
• Is the spirit of the prophecy the testimony of Jesus (Rev. 19:10)?
• Does the prophecy line up with the written word of God (Isaiah 8:20)?
• Does it glorify the Lord Jesus (1 Cor. 12:3)?
• If it’s not from the Lord, don’t stone the prophet. (There is a difference between weak and false prophecy!)
HOLD ON TO THE WORD: If it is good and from the Lord.
• Pray about it: It might be a now word, or a confirming word, or a future word.
• Personal prophecy is conditional - it refers to the possibility, not inevitability.
• Be patient until it comes to pass.
RESOURCES: We have a CD on “Revival and the Extreme Prophetic” that covers all of the basics of prophecy more in depth. You can also download this for free from our website.
I am also finishing up writing a mini-book called, “Prophetic Ministry 101” which I hope to have completed next week. I am posting short daily entries on our Faith Building Devotionals blog.
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://thelandofpromise.blogspot.com/
