War of the worlds - part 2
January 25, 2004 AM
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Let me review a few things from last Sunday morning;
One of the buzz words we hear a lot of today in religious circles is "God told me"
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I want you to see that saying "God said" when "God didn’t say" is taking God’s name in vain -- and much worse than any cuss words you could ever verbalize.
Now the reason that we are looking at this is that when we think we hear from God we have to judge that feeling or prompting by something --
There has to be a guildeline -- some absolute to evaluate what we’re hearing or feeling --
Because what Paul taught us was that flesh is unreliable
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Today -- everyone is saying that there are no absolutes.
We are told that truth is relative, it’s based on the situation or circumstances were in.
But I have to disagree --
The law of gravity is an absolute --
Measurements are absolutes.
Everyone must use the same standard of measurment.
Just because you want a bigger inch doesn’t mean you can use a ruler with a bigger inch.
So there are absolutes -- things that do not depend on circumstances, situations, or what people think or feel.
When it comes to what we think God is saying to us --
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There is one absolute absolute -- The Bible.
Everything God says will line up with what the Bible says or it isn’t God.
And not just a few individual verses -- but it will line up with what the Bible teaches as a whole.
If it doesn’t line up with the written Word -- it isn’t God.
No matter how strong you feel it, or how great you think it is --
So why is it that sometimes people say "God told me" when in reality it wasn’t God or at least it wasn’t what God really said?
What happens that causes that?
Last week we explained and showed you that
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We have a mind, a body, and a spirit.
Now when we accept Christ, when we commit our lives to Jesus --
When we become born again --
It is our Spirit that is made righteous instantly.
But you have two other parts;
The mind and the body.
The mind is born again progressively.
And the body gets changed at the rapture or resurrection of the dead.
Spirit is born again instantly, mind is born again progressively, body is born again at the rapture.
When God speaks, or the Spirit prompts, or there is a feeling that we interpret as God saying something --
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We need to understand that it begins as a clear, pure Word in our Spirit.
But our spirit does not have access to the real world except through our minds and our bodies.
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Which means -- even though it starts out pure -- but it passes through our thought processes,
and eventually comes out of our mouths --
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And it is no longer pure.
It is colored, or tainted by our thoughts, and our personalities, and our wants, and our desires.
So what begins as a pure word from God is colored or tainted by us.
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Our minds and our mouths taint and color every thing that begins in our spirit --
No matter how spiritual or how pure it may have been in the beginning.
I am sorry -- but if Paul struggled with this - so do you and I.
In 1 Corinthians, Paul is teaching about the gifts of the Spirit and their use in the church --
[s10]
Chapter 14, verse 29 says -- (NKJV) Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.
Now He’s talking about speaking in tongues, and interpretations, and prophetic words --
And he says "No more than 2 or 3 in a service at the most"--
And everyone else is to judge what is said.
What does he mean "judge what is said?"
It means, we try to see what the true pure word of the spirit was,
While filtering the color and taint that may have come as a result of the speakers mind and body.
Last week we dealt with prophetic words and interpetations in the local service --
Today I want us to look at the proper perspective on the ministry of the prophet and prophetic Word.
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First we need to ask are there prophets today?
Is the ministry and office of the prophet valid for today?
Well let’s look at the written Word;
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Eph 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
These listed as gifts to the church -
The church did not exist until the new testament -- so it was for the church we are a part of.
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Also in 1 Cor 12:28 ...And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
So clearly, prophets are a part of the design for the operation of the church.
So if prophets are indeed of God -- then how is that ministry used, and how do we know when God is really saying something?
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I think all of us realize that not everyone who calls themselves a prophet is one.
Not everyone who calls themselves a christian is one,
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Not everyone who calls themselves a preacher is one.
Not everyone who calls themselves a doctor is one.
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You can name any profession in life and there are both imposters and poor craftsmen.
Some people call themselves carpenters -- and that is what they do for a living -- but they’re lousy at it.
It never ceases to amaze me at people who go to dentists or plastic surgeons who are not trained or licensed.
It seems like every year we hear of someone in Florida who was maimed or injured by some bogus dentist.
Normal people who for some reason decided going to some out of the way apartment to get their teeth worked on seemed like a good idea.
I don’t understand it.
So our job then is to discern the real prophets from the not-so-real prophets.
So what is our guideline ?
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Again -- we only have one absolute -- the written Word, the Bible.
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So above all else, everything a prophet says must agree with the written Word.
Everything -- not most everything, not everything except this one part, everything.
Quite honestly on a regular basis I read prophecies from current popular prophets -
That amaze me at how blantantly they do not agree with the Word --
And yet believers eat it up like candy.
One prophecy by a well known prophet last year said that last February, I think it was --
God was going to rip evil out of the world.
And that prophecy went around religious circles like m & m’s at a circus.
Yet no where in God’s Word do we ever read about a last days "rapture of evil".
I had to wonder -- had God changed His mind and decided to rapture the evil?
See my Bible says that in the last days the world will get worse and worse,
Until He finally raptures the GOOD out of it.
Well needless to say -- we do still have evil, so that prophecy wasn’t true.
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Which brings up another topic -- what do you do about prophets who prophesy falsely?
Again let’s go to the Word;
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(1 John 4:1 NKJV) Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Then let’s see Romans 16:17 ...
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(Rom 16:17 NKJV) Now I urge you, brethren, note those (mark those) who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them."
It doesn’t say follow them to their next conference to see if it gets better,
It says avoid them.
There was another well known prophet which said Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction would be found last October -
Well they weren’t.
But instead of people avoiding him -- He’s still a key note speaker in conference after conference.
I have read countless prophecies that say if we don’t pray enough, or fast enough, or do something enough this month, God will send wrath and judgement next month.
I have to tell you -- I really struggle with God being an extortionist - holding people hostage with threats.
I struggle with every day events and catastrophes being labeled as God’s wrath,
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When there are so many believers around the world that are dieing for their faith, and their persecution has nothing to do with God’s wrath.
Friends, I am not trying to discount the prophetic ministry into oblivian,
But please keep your eyes open.
View everything through written Word eyes, and world view eyes.
When I here or read a prophetic word -- here’s what I do;
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1) I realize that the one who gave it is just as human as me --
and is affected by day to day life --
and because of that, he or she can miss it.
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2) I ask myself does it line up with the doctrines and teachings of the written Word --
because Paul said even if the prophetic word comes from an angel of light --
If it is different from the Word they have been taught, he said reject it.
He said there will be some false prophets and teachers who will be so good --
that they will even deceive some of the elect -- the deeply spiritual ones.
so if the fake guys are that good -- we need to really be sharp and on our toes.
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3) the third thing, I do is ask myself if this prophet has a history of false-prophecies.
What did he say last time, and did it happen?
If it didn’t -- I am leary about putting any stock in the new prophecy.
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4) the next I do is try to sense the spirit of the prophet --
Arrogance or humilty, fleshly or godly,
And some of that is looking at how he shares what he thinks God is saying --
"Thus saith God", or "I believe this is what the Lord is trying to say"
A "thus saith God" word must be defended, a "this is what I think God is saying" word, doesn’t
I’ll explain that more in a moment.
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5) I look at how often the prophet comes up a new prophecy.
If he has a prophecy of the month club, or a weekly word --
I have red-flags go off in my spirit.
Some of the greatest prophets ever recorded -- Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, John --
These great men, recognized as the genuine prophets of God, would live 70-80 years, minister publically for 40 or so years,
And receive 2 or 3 prophecies in a life time.
And they spoke for the most part before God was even able to create a written word which had His prophetic writings for the last days.
There are ministries today that have issued more prophecies than several of the Bible prophets put together --
Yet God’s Word is sealed.
There will be no more written Word.
I struggle with ministries that seemingly come up with a new prophetic word just in time for every new prophecy conference.
Maybe that doesn’t bother you -- but it does me,
And it is one of the criteria I use to judge the validity of prophetic words for today.
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6) I view every prophecy based on - does it fly in China.
Does persecution really mean God’s wrath is being poured out, when people around the world have been persecuted unmercilessly for decades.
Does a lack of prosperity or blessings really mean God is punishing me, when so many of the world believers consider it a blessed day if they had one meal.
Is terrorism or catastrophe really God’s anger when so many of the church live with danger every minute of every day?
So many of the prophecies I read are almost arrogance on the part of Americans --
That we are so special that God has to deal with us differently.
That’s not what the Word says.
Let me read some scripture from the Apostle Peter;
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(2 Pet 1:16 NKJV) For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
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(2 Pet 1:17 NKJV) For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
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(2 Pet 1:18 NKJV) And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
The transfiguration -- Peter, James and John with Jesus, Moses, and Elijah.
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(2 Pet 1:19 NKJV) And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;
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(2 Pet 1:20 NKJV) knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,
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(2 Pet 1:21 NKJV) for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
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(2 Pet 2:1 NKJV) But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you,
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who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.
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(2 Pet 2:2 NKJV) And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.
Peter is warning of false prophets, false teachers, and bad doctrines.
What we need to understand is that throughout church history there is a cycle which is repeated.
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From revivals and outpourings, to the rise of prophets and apostles to prominance.
So what we’re seeing today is not new -- just new to us.
But we can look at past cycles and see where things are going if we don’t keep our eyes open and on the written word.
When a prophet says "thus saith God" -- and it doesn’t happen.
The prophet has a problem.
If he simply said "I think this is what God is trying to say" --
And it doesn’t happen -- he can say "I guess I missed it, I’m sorry", that wasn’t God"
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When the prophet says "thus saith God" -- and it doesn’t happen -- he must either admit he didn’t hear from God,
Or defend his prophecy.
What usually happens is they defend their prophecy.
"I know I heard from God, and even if the Word doesn’t agree --
God told me and what He told me is more important than the Word says."
For solid Believers that ought to be the first sign of a false prophet or heresy.
But what happens, is people listen, and they think the argument of the prophet makes sense,
And whole new churches are born --
Thus we have movements like Mormonism.
Joseph Smith, a prophet, believed God showed him things which were not in the Bible --
But he convinced people that his prophecies were more important than the Bible --
And that God intended for there to be an addition to the Bible.
"Another testament" -- new revelation, new word.
Sorry, old lie -- God’s word is sealed.
There will be no new written revelation --
And any prophetic revelation will line up with the written Word --
Or it is not of God.
This church, and the fellowship to which we belong is based on apostolic principles.
We have those who fulfill the office of apostle in oversight of the local churches.
We have those who fulfill the prophetic office --
Remember -- the word "propheteo" has a it’s primary meaning "to speak under inspiration".
Every word of a prophet need not be a telling of the future.
Our whole world wide missions infrastructure is apostolic and prophetically based.
With various leaders fulfilling the office of apostles or prophets--
We have however chosen not to use the term "apostle, or prophet"
Mostly for the same reason I shun being called "Reverand Freeman"
I have as much right as anyone -- if it is a right -- to be labeled "Apostle Freeman"
We have founded, sponsored, and underwritten churches around the world.
Many are under our care -- the very definition of an apostle.
To be honest I probably have more oversight of ministries and churches that 90% of those out there calling themselves Apostles.
But pastor Ric just fits better.
So don’t be swayed by titles, websites, conference engagements, or national TV appearances --
Keep your eyes open -- test the spirits, seek the written word --
and judge the prophecy based on the absolutes of the word, realizing every prophetic word is colored by the life and personality of the prophet.
Paul writes to Timothy and says;
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(2 Tim 4:3 NKJV) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
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(2 Tim 4:4 NKJV) and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
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(2 Tim 4:5 NKJV) But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
This sermon may be used in part or in whole without consent, or credit, for ministry purposes
