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  6.  THE GIFT OF PROPHECY  -  WHO SHOULD PROPHESY?

  Moses said,   "Would God that ALL YAHWEH'S PEOPLE WERE PROPHETS, AND THAT YAHWEH (God) WOULD PUT HIS SPIRIT UPON THEM."   Numbers 11:29.

  The Bible says, "For you may ALL prophesy, one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted."  I Corinthians 14:31.

WHY WE SHOULD PROPHESY?

  1. BECAUSE GOD COMMANDS US TO: 1 Cor.14:37  "If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord."!

  Then, the Bible goes on to say in verse 38:  "But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant."   Next, the Bible commands in verse 39,  "Therefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues."  KJV

  God says, "Wherefore...COVET TO PROPHESY ."  I Cor. 14:39a.

  God says, "DESIRE (or, covet earrrrnestly) spiritual gifts, but rather ESPECIALLY THAT YOU MAY PROPHESY."   I Corinthians 14:1b.

  2.  TO EDIFY PEOPLE AND BUILD THEM UP: I Cor. 14:3a

3.  TO EXHORT AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE. I Cor. 14:3a

4.  TO COMFORT PEOPLE AND CHEER THEM UP. I Cor. 14:3a

  "But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort." I Corinthians 14:3a.

  5.  TO EDIFY THE CHURCH AND BUILD IT UP!   God says, "But HE THAT PROPHESIES, EDIFIES (builds up) THE CHURCH.  I Corinthians  "For GREATER IS HE WHO PROPHESIES... THAT THE CHURCH MAY RECEIVE EDIFYING."  I Corinthians 14:5b.

  6.  BECAUSE PROPHECY IS THE GREATER GIFT.  God says, " WOULD THAT YOU ALL spake with tongues, but rather THAT YOU PROPHESIED, for greater is he that prophesieth..."  I Corinthians 14:5a.

  7.  TO CONVINCE UNBELIEVERS THAT GOD EXISTS, AND THAT HE IS PRESENT. (See the following).

  8.  TO INSPIRE UNBELIEVERS TO WORSHIP. God says, "But if ALL PROPHESY, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, HE IS CONVINCED OF ALL, and he is judged of all: and thus are THE SECRETS OF HIS HEART MADE MANIFEST; AND SO, FALLING DOWN ON HIS FACE HE WILL WORSHIP GOD, AND REPORT THAT GOD IS IN YOU OF A TRUTH."   I Corinthians 14:24,25.

 
THE  IMPORTANCE  THAT  PROPHESY SHOULD  PLAY  IN  OUR  LIVES

  God commanded Apostle Timothy, in I Timothy 1:18, "This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, ACCORDING TO THE PROPHESIES WHICH WENT BEFORE ON THEE, THAT THOU BY THEM MIGHTEST WAR A GOOD WARFARE."  And again in chapter 4:14 - "NEGLECT NOT THE GIFT THAT IS IN THEE WHICH WAS GIVEN BY PROPHESY, WITH THE LAYING ON OF THE HANDS OF THE PRESBYTERY."  (Note especially - "NEGLECT NOT!"

 
WHY PEOPLE DON'T PROPHESY

  (or move in other gifts of the Holy Spirit)

  1. They don't know they are commanded to, supposed to, privileged to,        called to, chosen to. 

2.  Fear:

          A. Of making a mistake

          B. Of grieving God

          C. Of looking bad

3. Disobedience

4. They haven't done their homework.  They don't know how to listen to     or hear from God.

6. They don't know enough of the Word.

7. Sin in their lives that disqualifies.

          A. Makes them feel guilty

          B. Takes away their confidence

          C. Makes it so they should not prophesy

8. They are not full of God.

          A. Baptized of Holy Spirit

          B. Full of Holy Spirit

          C. Anointing

9.  Don't know how to be led by God in whether or not to speak up in the first place, continue or stop in the second place.

  DEFINITION:  "THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS IS THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY" Rev.19:20

  I Corinthians 14:3 says, "But HE THAT PROPHESIETH SPEAKETH UNTO MEN TO EDIFICATION, EXHORTATION, AND COMFORT.

  PROPHESYING TO INANIMATE OBJECTS

  The young prophet prophesied to the altar.  1 Kings 13.

  The following examples from the Book of Ezekiel.  Prophesy against the forest.  Prophesy unto the mountains.  Prophesy upon these bones.  Prophesy unto the wind.  Ezek 6:1   "The word of the LORD Yahweh came to me: 2 ‘Son of man, set your face against the mountains of Israel; prophesy against them 3 and say: "O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Sovereign LORD Yahweh. ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD Yahweh says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys: "I am about to bring a sword against you, and I will destroy your high places." ' " ' "  (from New International Version)

  Joshua prophesied to the moon and the sun, and they stood still!  Josh.10:12. 

  Jesus prophesied when He spoke to and commanded the wind, the waves, etc. Mark 4:39  Indeed, every thing He said was Prophecy!!!

PROPHESYING ACCOMPANIED  WITH MUSIC &/OR INSTRUMENTS

  I Chronicles 25:1 indicates that at the height of his kingly rule in the glory of the kingdom, David commissioned certain ones who should PROPHESY WITH HARPS, WITH PSALTERIES  AND WITH CYMBALS." 

  Do you remember that David repeatedly drove the evil spirit away when he played on his harp in the presence of demon possessed King Saul? 1 Sa.16 

  Elijah called for the man to play a harp before he would prophesy. 2 Ki.2:15