God’s Power Through Spiritual Gifts (part 9)

The Utterance Gifts – The Gifts that say something

12.14.2022

1 Corinthians 12:31 (NKJV)

But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

1 Corinthians 14:1 (AMP)

EAGERLY PURSUE and seek to acquire [this] love [make it your aim, your great quest]; and earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual endowments (gifts), especially that you may prophesy (interpret the divine will and purpose in inspired preaching and teaching).

Review

1 Corinthians 12:4-11

There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

There are three major classifications of spiritual gifts…

Revelation Gifts – Reveal Something

Word of Wisdom

Word of Knowledge

Discerning of Spirits

Power Gifts – Do Something

Gift of Faith

Working of Miracles

Gifts of Healings

Utterance Gifts– Say something

Gift of Prophecy

Different Kinds of Tongues

Interpretation of Tongues

Some facts about the gift of prophecy

Prophecy is the most important of the three gifts of utterance. It takes the other two utterance gifts – tongues and interpretation to equal prophecy.

 

1 Corinthians 14:5 (NKJV)

I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.

Prophecy – a supernatural utterance in a known tongue.

Different Kinds of Tongues is a supernatural utterance in an unknown language.

Interpretation of tongues is a supernatural revealing of what has been said in different kinds of tongues.

Hebrew Word for prophecy means – to flow forth; to bubble forth like a fountain; to let drop; to lift up; to tumble forth; to spring forth.

Greek Word for prophecy – to speak on God’s behalf or to be God’s spokesman.

In the Old Testament, prophecy is mostly foretelling.

Only the prophet, priest, and king had the HS on them. No one could hear the voice of the HS the way we do.

In the New Testament, prophecy is forth-telling. Encouraging. Not for guidance.

All believers are encouraged to prophecy.

1 Corinthians 14:1-5 (NKJ

Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.

1 Corinthians 14:39 (NKJV)

Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.

Some thoughts about prophecy and prophets

There is no revelation in the simple gift of prophecy. It simply edifies, exhorts, and comforts (1 Corinthians 14:3).

The prophet’s ministry is a ministry office mentioned in Ephesians 4:11. Prophesying doesn’t make you a prophet.

A prophet has at least two of the revelation gifts plus prophecy working in his life.

1 Corinthians 12:29-31 (NKJV)

Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

Are all prophets? Paul told the whole church to desire to prophecy, but that doesn’t qualify them to be a prophet.

Example of the simple gift of prophecy.

Acts 21:8-13 (NKJV)

On the next day we who were Paul’s companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied. 10 And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit,’So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'” 12 Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

The simple gift of prophecy edifies the believer but does not predict the believer’s future.

The gifts of prophecy plus the word of wisdom may foretell the future.

 

We are to prophecy according to our faith.

Romans 12:6 (NKJV)

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith.

Don’t try to prophecy without the anointing.

Prophecy is not preaching – To preach is to proclaim, announce, cry, to tell – always in the sense of expounding the Word. We preach the gospel. We don’t prophecy the gospel.

In preaching, the human mind (full of the Word) is operated by the Spirit. In prophecy, the mind of the Spirit is speaking through the natural speech organs.

Preaching is inspired, but it is not supernatural. Prophesying is supernatural –the mind is not involved.

Prophecy is not for guidance.

Example – meeting at Florence Tech – Pago-pago

We are to be led by the Spirit of God.

Romans 8:14 (NKJV)

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Proverbs 20:27 (NKJV)

The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord,

Searching all the inner depths of his heart.

Prophecy Directives

Understand the purpose behind the meeting you are attending.

Ask to be used by God in spiritual gifts.

Pray in tongues.

Wait for the anointing before you begin.

Wait for the proper time.

Know when to stop.

1 Corinthians 14:32 (AMPC)

For the spirits of the prophets (the speakers in tongues) are under the speaker’s control [and subject to being silenced as may be necessary],

Interpretation of Tongues

1 Corinthians 12:10 (NKJV)

to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

It is the least of the nine gifts because it is dependent on another gift for its operation. It takes the least faith to use. (1 Corinthians 14:5)

1 Corinthians 14:13-15 (NKJV)

Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15 What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.

1 Corinthians 14:13-15 (J.B. Phillips)

And that means if one of your number speaks with a “tongue”, he should pray that he may be able to interpret what he says. If I pray in a “tongue” my spirit is praying but my mind is inactive. I am therefore determined to pray with my spirit and my mind, and if I sing I will sing with both spirit and mind.

1 Corinthians 14:13-14 (AMPC)

Therefore, the person who speaks in an [unknown] tongue should pray [for the power] to interpret and explain what he says. 14 For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit [by the Holy Spirit within me] prays, but my mind is unproductive [it bears no fruit and helps nobody].

How To Judge Prophecy

1. Does it agree with the Word?

John 16:13-15

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

John 14:15-17

If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever — 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

John 14:26

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

1 John 5:7

For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.

2. Does it glorify and exalt Jesus?

John 16:14

He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.

1 Corinthians 12:3

Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

1 John 4:1-2

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. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,

Rev 19:10

And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

3. Does it edify, exhort, and comfort?

1 Corinthians 14:3

But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.

1 Corinthians 4:21

What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

James 3:17

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

4. Does it produce liberty or bondage?

2 Corinthians 3:17

Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

Romans 8:15

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out,”Abba, Father.”

John 8:32

And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

5. Does it bear witness with your spirit?

Romans 8:16

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

1 John 2:20

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.

1 John 2:27

But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.