Hello, I'm 00:00:01.98\00:00:02.95 and I'd like to welcome you to Heaven's Point of View. 00:00:02.96\00:00:04.30 Our topic for this series is the gifts of the Holy Spirit 00:00:04.40\00:00:07.79 and I hope you are as excited about watching today's program 00:00:07.89\00:00:10.76 as I am about teaching it because on today's program 00:00:10.86\00:00:13.67 we are starting on the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit. 00:00:13.77\00:00:16.36 We are going to take an in-depth look at the gift 00:00:16.46\00:00:19.31 to speak, starting today, with the gift of prophecy. 00:00:19.45\00:00:22.88 For almost 20 years I saw this gift grossly abused 00:00:22.98\00:00:26.71 by men proclaiming to be prophets of God 00:00:26.74\00:00:30.12 and all the while they were drawing glory to themselves. 00:00:30.23\00:00:34.43 Today I get to teach God's truth about this gift, 00:00:34.53\00:00:38.53 not just what I've heard someone else say about it. 00:00:38.63\00:00:41.54 So get your Bible and follow along with me from 00:00:41.64\00:00:44.64 Heaven's Point of View. 00:00:44.74\00:00:46.61 I was sharing with a Christian brother recently 00:01:08.48\00:01:10.73 about doing a series on the gifts of the Holy Spirit, 00:01:10.87\00:01:13.32 and his question was this: What are the gifts 00:01:13.42\00:01:15.61 of the Holy Spirit? What does it mean? 00:01:15.71\00:01:17.90 Well, let me give you a definition. 00:01:18.00\00:01:19.27 The gifts of the Holy Spirit are spiritual endowments 00:01:19.37\00:01:21.95 beyond our natural mind and founded on the omnipotent God 00:01:22.05\00:01:26.02 we serve. These gifts are given to the church 00:01:26.12\00:01:29.00 to demonstrate the authority of the believer. That's us. 00:01:29.10\00:01:32.62 Various efforts have been made to classify, group, or show 00:01:32.73\00:01:36.91 how the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit actually complement 00:01:37.01\00:01:39.44 one another. As a whole, we can see how these gifts 00:01:39.54\00:01:42.70 fortify, guard, and edify the early church in the absence 00:01:42.80\00:01:47.70 of the revealed New Testament. They enjoyed miraculous 00:01:47.80\00:01:52.67 knowledge and the wisdom to apply it with understanding. 00:01:52.77\00:01:56.07 They had faith that could remove mountains 00:01:56.17\00:01:58.95 and the gift of healing. They could confirm the 00:01:59.04\00:02:02.05 spoken word with the working of miracles and miraculously 00:02:02.15\00:02:06.17 teach and foretell the future with the gift of prophecy. 00:02:06.27\00:02:09.78 They could determine a true and false teacher in the absence 00:02:09.88\00:02:13.94 of total revealed truth by the discerning of the spirits. 00:02:14.04\00:02:17.73 They were able to converse, teach, and have the language 00:02:17.84\00:02:21.31 understood to all present in languages unknown to them 00:02:21.41\00:02:25.53 because of the gift of tongues and the gift of interpretation 00:02:25.63\00:02:29.11 of tongues. The gifts of the Holy Spirit as listed in 00:02:29.21\00:02:33.09 God's Word in I Corinthians 12:8-10 are this: 00:02:33.19\00:02:37.29 "For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom, 00:02:38.25\00:02:41.03 to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit. 00:02:41.14\00:02:45.65 To another, faith by the same Spirit. 00:02:45.75\00:02:48.31 To another the gift of healing by the same Spirit. 00:02:48.41\00:02:51.39 Another, the working of miracles. 00:02:51.49\00:02:53.80 To another prophecy, to another the discerning of spirits. 00:02:53.90\00:02:57.85 To another diverse kinds of tongues, 00:02:57.95\00:03:00.97 and to another, interpretation of tongues. " 00:03:01.08\00:03:03.63 Now, this is a good place to stop and let you know 00:03:03.73\00:03:06.75 that for years as a charismatic pastor, I heard this expression 00:03:06.85\00:03:10.59 from people that were not in this movement. 00:03:10.69\00:03:12.76 Well, the gift of tongues is the least of the gifts because 00:03:12.86\00:03:16.16 it is listed last. Excuse me, 00:03:16.26\00:03:18.50 the gift of interpretation is listed last. 00:03:18.60\00:03:21.64 So if you get a chance to say this to somebody, 00:03:21.74\00:03:23.92 please don't - because you might end up being 00:03:24.02\00:03:26.03 embarrassed over this. And besides that, in the 00:03:26.13\00:03:28.87 12th chapter of Corinthians he lists the gift of tongues 00:03:28.97\00:03:31.14 and the gift of interpretation last. And it can't be the least 00:03:31.24\00:03:35.26 of any of them because in the 13th chapter of I Corinthians 00:03:35.36\00:03:39.40 it plainly tell us that there is faith, hope, and love - and 00:03:39.50\00:03:42.54 love is listed last but Paul says love is the greatest. 00:03:42.64\00:03:45.54 So we have an expression in Alabama: 00:03:45.64\00:03:47.91 that dog won't hunt. So don't tell anybody that the 00:03:48.01\00:03:50.07 tongues is the least of the gifts because it's listed last, 00:03:50.16\00:03:52.89 OK? The gifts can be divided 00:03:52.99\00:03:54.80 into three categories with three gifts in each one. 00:03:54.90\00:03:57.44 First are the gifts to speak. This includes 00:03:57.54\00:04:00.54 Next are the gifts to know. 00:04:03.39\00:04:05.97 Then there are the gifts to do. 00:04:09.27\00:04:11.47 Now let's look at the gift to speak. 00:04:17.27\00:04:19.15 First, there is the gift of prophecy. The gift of prophecy. 00:04:19.25\00:04:23.97 I Corinthians 12:10 says: "To another prophecy. " 00:04:24.08\00:04:27.99 Now let me give you a definition of this, OK? 00:04:28.10\00:04:30.12 The gift of prophecy is by special ability that God gives 00:04:30.22\00:04:33.54 to members of the body of Christ to receive and to communicate 00:04:33.64\00:04:36.80 an immediate message of God to His people, 00:04:36.90\00:04:40.87 to a certain group among God's people, 00:04:40.97\00:04:43.35 or any one of His people individually, 00:04:43.38\00:04:46.03 through a divinely anointed utterance. 00:04:46.14\00:04:49.20 Now here are two Biblical truths concerning prophecy. 00:04:49.30\00:04:54.15 Truth number one: in the centuries immediately 00:04:54.25\00:04:57.81 preceding the first advent of Christ, the manifestation of the 00:04:57.91\00:05:01.96 gift of prophecy almost totally disappeared. 00:05:02.06\00:05:04.94 This is from Christian Experience and Teachings, 00:05:05.04\00:05:06.91 242, paragraph 1. In most Bibles there is a single 00:05:07.01\00:05:11.88 white page between the Old Testament and the 00:05:11.91\00:05:15.69 New Testament. That page represents 400 years 00:05:15.79\00:05:19.70 of intertestamental prophetic silence and oppression 00:05:19.80\00:05:23.61 visited on God's people. It was during this time 00:05:23.71\00:05:26.85 that the children of God sincerely cried out 00:05:26.96\00:05:29.40 for a deliverer. He came in the form of a child, 00:05:29.54\00:05:32.73 born in a manger in a little town of Bethlehem. 00:05:32.83\00:05:36.10 Truth number two: But the Scriptures, 00:05:36.20\00:05:39.38 while foretelling this dreadful apostasy, also plainly teaches 00:05:39.48\00:05:43.55 that just before the second coming of Christ, 00:05:43.65\00:05:46.24 many will be rescued from the darkness of error and 00:05:46.34\00:05:49.74 superstition. Once more the earth is to be lightened by 00:05:49.84\00:05:53.79 the glory of God. The pure truths will shine forth, 00:05:53.90\00:05:57.82 and in this time of heavenly illumination marking the 00:05:57.92\00:06:01.62 approaching end of the age, the gifts of the Spirit 00:06:01.72\00:06:04.93 are again to be manifest in the true church. 00:06:05.04\00:06:08.72 Christian Experience and Teachings, 242, paragraph 2. 00:06:08.82\00:06:13.40 Prophecy is largely rejected and despised by Christendom 00:06:13.50\00:06:17.28 as a whole. They fear what they don't understand 00:06:17.38\00:06:20.24 and blatantly reject what they have been taught 00:06:20.34\00:06:23.33 is not for today. Prophecy has been surrounded by 00:06:23.43\00:06:26.91 misunderstandings, confusion, and fear 00:06:27.02\00:06:29.36 yet from the standpoint of the Scriptures, 00:06:29.46\00:06:33.06 the gift of prophecy is the most important spiritual gift. 00:06:33.16\00:06:38.10 Paul considers it vital to the building up of God's church. 00:06:38.20\00:06:43.21 When Moses was finally convinced that God wanted him to delegate 00:06:44.65\00:06:48.00 his governing authority to a larger number, 00:06:48.10\00:06:50.35 he called 70 elders to a committee meeting 00:06:50.45\00:06:52.94 at the tabernacle. In Numbers 11:25-29 it says: 00:06:53.04\00:06:57.94 "And the Lord came down in a cloud and spake unto him 00:06:58.04\00:07:00.36 and took of the Spirit that was upon him - Moses - and gave it 00:07:00.46\00:07:04.10 unto the 70 elders, and it came to pass that when the Spirit 00:07:04.20\00:07:07.22 rested upon them, they prophesied and did not cease. 00:07:07.32\00:07:13.22 But there remained two of the men in the camp, 00:07:13.32\00:07:16.16 The name of one was Eldad and the name of the other was 00:07:16.26\00:07:18.97 Medad. And the Spirit rested upon them and they were of them 00:07:19.07\00:07:24.26 that were written but went not out unto the tabernacle. 00:07:24.36\00:07:29.03 And they prophesied in the camp. And there ran a young man 00:07:29.13\00:07:33.00 and he told Moses and said, 'Eldad and Medad do prophesy 00:07:33.10\00:07:37.04 in the camp. ' And Joshua, the son of Nun, the servant 00:07:37.14\00:07:40.12 of Moses, one of his young men answered and said, 00:07:40.22\00:07:43.10 'My lord, Moses, forbid them. ' And Moses said unto him: 00:07:43.20\00:07:46.17 Oh, I love it! 'In this thou for my sake? 00:07:46.28\00:07:48.94 Would God that all the Lord's people were prophets, "Amen! 00:07:49.04\00:07:54.11 and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them. " 00:07:54.21\00:07:57.07 You see two of the elders failed to show up at the meeting. 00:07:57.17\00:08:01.06 The Spirit of God fell on the 68 who attended; however, the 00:08:01.16\00:08:05.52 Spirit came also upon the two who remained in the camp 00:08:05.62\00:08:09.39 who began to prophesy as well. Everyone wanted all of them 00:08:09.49\00:08:13.97 to stop, uncomfortable at the direct voice of God 00:08:14.07\00:08:17.28 and jealous for Moses to be the uniqueness as God's prophet. 00:08:17.38\00:08:22.07 They reported the incident to Moses and demanded that 00:08:22.17\00:08:25.77 he stop them. One could almost see Moses' concern. 00:08:25.87\00:08:29.14 And then reflecting on the blessedness of the Spirit's 00:08:29.24\00:08:32.11 presence in his life, he made this statement: 00:08:32.21\00:08:34.85 "Would that all the Lord's people were prophets - that the 00:08:34.95\00:08:38.95 Lord would put His Spirit upon them. " Numbers 11:29 00:08:39.09\00:08:43.50 Moses words began to be fulfilled on the 00:08:43.61\00:08:46.11 Day of Pentecost when the Spirit fell on an infant church 00:08:46.21\00:08:50.03 and prompted them to speak out in tongues the wondrous works 00:08:50.13\00:08:54.18 of God. Peter, still under the influence of the Holy Spirit, 00:08:54.28\00:08:57.48 explained this phenomenon with the Word of God. 00:08:57.58\00:09:00.25 He said: "This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel. " 00:09:00.35\00:09:04.36 God declared: 00:09:04.46\00:09:05.77 He is quoting from Joel 2:28. 00:09:30.43\00:09:32.28 Just what is the role of prophecy for the church today? 00:09:32.39\00:09:35.98 The New Testament Scriptures make it clear that the Spirit 00:09:36.08\00:09:39.55 is a universal gift to the church and that prophecy 00:09:39.65\00:09:45.47 is the characteristic gift of the Holy Spirit. 00:09:45.57\00:09:48.70 The apostle Paul indicated that the gift of prophecy 00:09:48.80\00:09:51.65 was for every believer. "For you can all prophesy 00:09:51.76\00:09:55.98 one by one. " That's I Corinthians 14:31 00:09:56.08\00:09:58.81 As we desire the renewal of the church - we need it - 00:09:58.92\00:10:03.65 this earnest expectation of the gift of prophecy among 00:10:03.75\00:10:06.50 God's people gives us great hope. 00:10:06.60\00:10:09.55 You see, if we take Paul's letter to the Corinthians 00:10:09.75\00:10:12.53 seriously, we must conclude that the gift of prophecy is 00:10:12.63\00:10:16.31 indispensable to the church. We can't do without it. 00:10:16.41\00:10:20.32 When we try to build churches without the gift being active, 00:10:20.42\00:10:23.93 any of the gifts being active, it's like trying to walk across 00:10:24.03\00:10:27.43 Illinois, or America, or Texas, on your hands. 00:10:27.53\00:10:31.06 It can be done, but it's certainly not the easy way 00:10:31.16\00:10:34.05 to do it - it's the hard way to do it. 00:10:34.15\00:10:35.66 The importance of the gift of prophecy is seen from Paul's 00:10:35.77\00:10:38.68 urgency for this gift to be used. He commands the 00:10:38.78\00:10:41.99 Corinthians to earnestly desire to prophesy. 00:10:42.09\00:10:46.07 I Corinthians 14:39 In all the various lists and 00:10:46.17\00:10:50.54 discussions of the gifts in Paul's letters, the only 00:10:50.64\00:10:55.28 constant gift is prophecy. Whenever Paul attempts to 00:10:55.38\00:11:00.76 classify the gifts in terms of importance, prophecy is given 00:11:00.86\00:11:05.17 preference over all the rest of the gifts. 00:11:05.20\00:11:08.12 says: "Follow after charity and desire spiritual gifts 00:11:10.78\00:11:13.54 but rather that ye may prophesy. " 00:11:13.64\00:11:17.04 The immense value of prophecy to the church today is that it 00:11:17.14\00:11:21.39 is a current, current, current word of God, 00:11:21.49\00:11:24.86 current word from God, to encourage and guide His people. 00:11:24.96\00:11:28.87 The prophetic message is: "A word fitly spoken is like 00:11:28.97\00:11:34.42 apples of gold in pictures of silver. " 00:11:34.52\00:11:38.30 And this word comes directly from God Almighty Himself. 00:11:42.47\00:11:46.44 says: "Let no corrupt 00:11:48.46\00:11:49.64 communication proceed out of 00:11:49.78\00:11:50.85 your mouth but that which is 00:11:50.98\00:11:52.08 good to the use and the edifying 00:11:52.21\00:11:54.45 that it may minister grace 00:11:54.70\00:11:56.16 to the hearer. " 00:11:56.26\00:11:57.23 A specific revelation can be particularly powerful 00:11:57.26\00:12:02.29 in bringing conviction of sin and of God's presence 00:12:02.39\00:12:06.56 to unbelievers or backsliders who are present in the church 00:12:06.66\00:12:10.77 gatherings. Paul, the apostle, said, suggest to the 00:12:10.87\00:12:16.58 Corinthians how prophecy can work in this way. 00:12:16.68\00:12:19.45 "If all prophesy, and an 00:12:19.56\00:12:22.33 unbeliever or outsider enters, 00:12:22.43\00:12:24.30 he is convicted by all, 00:12:24.40\00:12:25.37 he is called to account by all, 00:12:25.40\00:12:28.04 the secrets of his heart are 00:12:28.14\00:12:30.18 disclosed, and so - falling on 00:12:30.28\00:12:32.05 his face, he will worship God 00:12:32.15\00:12:34.47 and declare that God is really 00:12:34.57\00:12:36.45 among you. " 00:12:36.61\00:12:37.79 For the outsider, prophecy can be a powerful sign of God's 00:12:40.47\00:12:44.68 presence among His people. We cannot afford to despise 00:12:44.78\00:12:48.03 the gift of prophecy nor can we allow it room for misuse 00:12:48.13\00:12:51.51 or misunderstanding and prevent us from embracing 00:12:51.61\00:12:54.97 and manifesting it. Rather we must diligently seek to control 00:12:55.07\00:12:59.24 its abuses by the guidelines of Scripture. 00:12:59.34\00:13:01.95 And be sure, be sure, saints of God - test all things. 00:13:02.05\00:13:08.24 says: "Despise not prophesying " 00:13:11.35\00:13:12.96 That's clear enough, isn't it? 00:13:13.06\00:13:14.10 "Despise not prophesying, prove 00:13:14.20\00:13:15.46 all things, hold fast to that 00:13:15.56\00:13:17.31 which is good. " 00:13:17.41\00:13:18.38 We must obey this scripture to allow the great constructive 00:13:18.39\00:13:23.38 value of prophecy to be experienced by our churches. 00:13:23.48\00:13:26.41 Through this unique spiritual gift, the church is able 00:13:26.51\00:13:30.18 to grow. It is able to mature. It is able to move forward. 00:13:30.28\00:13:33.66 And it is able to do it according to the Word of God. 00:13:33.76\00:13:35.58 says: "Follow after charity 00:13:38.70\00:13:40.15 and desire spiritual gifts. " 00:13:40.25\00:13:43.15 "Follow after charity and 00:13:43.25\00:13:44.53 desire spiritual gifts 00:13:44.63\00:13:46.06 but rather that you may 00:13:46.16\00:13:47.13 prophesy. " Why? "That the 00:13:47.23\00:13:50.11 church may receive edifying. " 00:13:50.21\00:13:53.10 Now here are some Biblical examples of the 00:13:53.20\00:13:55.27 gift of prophecy. Are you ready for this? 00:13:55.37\00:13:57.07 The beginning of the Christian era was marked by the outpouring 00:13:57.17\00:14:00.07 of the Holy Spirit and the manifestation of various 00:14:00.18\00:14:02.74 spiritual gifts. Among these was the gift of prophecy. 00:14:02.84\00:14:05.75 In the Book of Acts we read of the inspired utterances of Peter 00:14:05.85\00:14:09.72 of Steven and of others connected with the early 00:14:09.82\00:14:12.72 Christian church. Also of the four daughters of Philip, 00:14:12.82\00:14:18.25 virgins, which did prophesy and a prophet named Agabus. 00:14:18.35\00:14:23.78 Acts 21:9-10 00:14:23.88\00:14:25.01 Christian Experience and Teachings 240, paragraph 1. 00:14:25.12\00:14:29.62 This is a powerful statement written by a prophetess. 00:14:29.72\00:14:33.16 Listen to this: The apostle had visions of the glory of heaven 00:14:33.26\00:14:37.41 and see II Corinthians 12:1-7. He wrote at length in the 00:14:37.51\00:14:41.45 12th chapter of I Corinthians concerning gifts of the Spirit 00:14:41.56\00:14:44.40 that were give not for one age alone. Listen, this is NOT FOR 00:14:44.50\00:14:49.47 ONE AGE ALONE but till we all come into the unity of the faith 00:14:49.57\00:14:52.83 and of the knowledge of the Son of God 00:14:52.93\00:14:55.25 unto a perfect man. Are we there yet? NO! 00:14:55.35\00:14:57.88 So they are still here. The gifts are still real. 00:14:57.98\00:15:00.77 They are still for today. He goes on to say: "Unto the 00:15:00.87\00:15:03.51 measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. " 00:15:03.61\00:15:06.39 Not the "partness," not the "sumness," but the stature 00:15:06.50\00:15:08.82 of the fullness of Christ. " 00:15:08.92\00:15:10.04 You will find that in Ephesians 4:13. 00:15:10.14\00:15:11.91 "God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily 00:15:12.02\00:15:16.09 prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, 00:15:16.19\00:15:18.79 then the gifts of healing, helps, governments, 00:15:18.89\00:15:21.25 diversities of tongues. " I Corinthians 2:28 00:15:21.35\00:15:24.74 And that's from Christian Experience and Teachings 240, 00:15:24.84\00:15:28.99 paragraph 2. John the apostle, the last 00:15:29.09\00:15:32.30 survivor of the 12 apostles of Jesus, was a prophet. 00:15:32.40\00:15:35.41 In the closing book of the Bible, Revelation, he tells 00:15:35.51\00:15:40.00 of the visions that were given him while he was in banishment 00:15:40.11\00:15:44.15 on the Isle of Patmos. In recording these visions, 00:15:44.25\00:15:46.91 he declares them to be the Revelation of Jesus Christ. 00:15:47.01\00:15:51.83 You know we hear a lot of teaching from other 00:15:51.93\00:15:54.13 denominations and other groups and everything, and they are 00:15:54.23\00:15:57.70 unfolding, supposedly, revelation. 00:15:57.80\00:16:00.39 But their unfolding of revelation so much of the time 00:16:00.59\00:16:04.37 does not reveal Jesus Christ. This is what I appreciate about 00:16:04.47\00:16:08.91 3ABN. The one that would counteract the counterfeit, 00:16:09.01\00:16:12.11 preach the undiluted three angels' messages. 00:16:12.21\00:16:14.82 All the teachings that we present and try to present 00:16:14.92\00:16:17.28 on Revelation reveal Jesus Christ 00:16:17.38\00:16:21.06 which God gave unto John to show His servants 00:16:21.21\00:16:25.21 things which must shortly come to pass. 00:16:25.35\00:16:27.84 And he says that Christ sent and signified it by his angel 00:16:27.97\00:16:31.64 unto his servant John who bare record of the Word of God 00:16:31.74\00:16:36.12 and of the testimony of Jesus Christ and all the things 00:16:36.22\00:16:40.21 that he saw. That's in Revelation 1 and 2. 00:16:40.31\00:16:43.17 That's Christian Experience and Teachings 240, paragraph 3, 00:16:43.21\00:16:47.00 and 241. You see the gift of prophecy helped shape the Bible 00:16:47.10\00:16:50.86 significantly. There are two general kinds of prophecy calls. 00:16:50.96\00:16:55.36 First, classical. 00:16:55.46\00:16:56.89 And then second, predictive or apocalyptic. 00:16:56.99\00:17:01.07 The classical prophecy deals with the contemporary situation. 00:17:01.17\00:17:05.66 The writings of Isaiah and the writings of Jeremiah are good 00:17:05.76\00:17:09.00 classic examples. These men received some messages 00:17:09.10\00:17:12.71 that were primarily directed to the people of their own time 00:17:12.81\00:17:15.59 and other messages that contained predictive elements. 00:17:15.69\00:17:18.81 Other messages that contained PREDICTIVE elements. 00:17:18.91\00:17:21.68 Now Daniel and Revelation contain much predictive 00:17:21.78\00:17:26.09 and apocalyptic prophesies. You see, the gift of prophecy 00:17:26.19\00:17:30.45 may function long term or short term - as in the case 00:17:30.55\00:17:35.49 of Ellen White. A person may receive a life-long call 00:17:35.59\00:17:40.12 to prophetic ministry. On the other hand, 00:17:40.22\00:17:42.92 the Holy Spirit may choose to assign the gift of prophecy 00:17:43.02\00:17:45.58 temporarily. Its His gifts and God gives them as He wills 00:17:45.68\00:17:50.01 often to resolve a difficult issue that needs clear 00:17:50.11\00:17:54.47 intervention by the Lord. This is why it's given. 00:17:54.57\00:17:56.75 Notice two special people at Jesus' dedication: 00:17:56.85\00:18:00.45 Simeon, a priest who had long prayed to live to see 00:18:00.55\00:18:05.03 the Messiah, was moved by the Holy Spirit and gave a short 00:18:05.13\00:18:09.70 prophecy about Jesus' life. Now you see that Simeon, 00:18:09.80\00:18:14.13 who was a short-term prophet, gave a long-term predictive 00:18:14.23\00:18:19.22 message. Then there was also Anna, a long-term prophetess, 00:18:19.33\00:18:24.19 who gave no prophecy of the future - but she witnessed 00:18:24.29\00:18:28.72 diligently about the Savior to all who would listen. 00:18:28.82\00:18:33.22 You will find this in Luke 2:25-35. 00:18:33.32\00:18:37.48 Now let's look right now at some purposes for the 00:18:37.58\00:18:41.88 gift of prophecy. Now this is vital, I hope you're taking 00:18:41.98\00:18:44.63 notes. If not, that you'll rewatch this or get the series - 00:18:44.74\00:18:48.71 however you need to. It brings life, 00:18:48.81\00:18:51.11 prophecy brings life to the Word of God. 00:18:51.21\00:18:53.48 If Ezekiel had not prophesied, oh, hear this, 00:18:53.58\00:18:56.79 saints of God hear this, If Ezekiel had not prophesied 00:18:56.90\00:18:59.98 over the valley of dry bones, it would still be a 00:19:00.08\00:19:05.58 valley of dry bones. That's pretty simple, isn't it? 00:19:05.68\00:19:09.11 "The hand of the Lord was 00:19:11.02\00:19:11.99 upon me and carried me out 00:19:12.08\00:19:13.11 in the Spirit of the Lord 00:19:13.21\00:19:14.18 and set me down in the midst 00:19:14.19\00:19:15.92 of the valley which was 00:19:16.02\00:19:17.97 full of bones. " 00:19:18.07\00:19:19.04 Nothing but bones, dry bones. 00:19:19.05\00:19:21.24 "and caused me to pass by them 00:19:21.34\00:19:22.95 round about and, behold, 00:19:23.05\00:19:24.52 there were v-e-r-y many 00:19:24.63\00:19:26.93 in the open valley. 00:19:27.03\00:19:28.60 And lo, they were very dry. 00:19:28.70\00:19:31.12 And he said unto me, Son of man, 00:19:31.22\00:19:34.47 can these bones live? 00:19:34.57\00:19:36.61 And I answered, O Lord, thou knowest. " 00:19:36.71\00:19:39.33 If more of us would answer that instead of trying to give 00:19:39.37\00:19:42.01 some quick fix answer. If we would just answer, 00:19:42.11\00:19:44.14 "Lord, thou knowest. " 00:19:44.24\00:19:45.21 "Again he said unto me, prophesy upon these bones and 00:19:45.22\00:19:48.45 say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. " 00:19:48.55\00:19:52.32 It brings revival! Prophecy also brings revival 00:19:53.64\00:19:56.78 and reformation. True prophecy reforms and revives. 00:19:56.88\00:20:00.99 says: "But this is that 00:20:04.34\00:20:06.15 which was spoken by the prophet 00:20:06.25\00:20:08.25 Joel. " This is that. "And it shall come to pass 00:20:08.35\00:20:11.71 in the last days, saith God, 00:20:11.81\00:20:13.00 I will pour out of my Spirit 00:20:13.10\00:20:15.32 upon all flesh, and your sons 00:20:15.42\00:20:17.29 and your daughters 00:20:17.39\00:20:18.76 shall prophesy, and your 00:20:18.86\00:20:20.08 young men shall see visions, 00:20:20.18\00:20:21.25 and your old men shall dream 00:20:21.36\00:20:22.33 dreams: and on my servants 00:20:22.34\00:20:24.61 and on my handmaidens 00:20:24.71\00:20:26.62 I will pour out in those days 00:20:26.72\00:20:29.34 of My Spirit and they shall 00:20:29.44\00:20:31.80 prophesy. " 00:20:31.90\00:20:33.08 You see, true prophecy can guide you 00:20:33.18\00:20:37.37 to your God-called place in ministry. Did you hear that? 00:20:37.47\00:20:42.22 It will guide you to your God-called place in ministry. 00:20:42.32\00:20:46.15 So many of you are looking for it. 00:20:46.25\00:20:47.58 True prophecy can guide you into that. 00:20:47.68\00:20:50.00 Prophecy, when spoken of the unction of the Holy Ghost, 00:20:50.10\00:20:53.58 can properly position you in Christ. 00:20:53.69\00:20:56.23 Pastor Hal, where do you get that? 00:20:56.33\00:20:57.85 Out of Act 13:1-3. 00:20:57.96\00:21:00.25 It says: "Now there were in the church that was at Antioch 00:21:00.36\00:21:04.05 certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon 00:21:04.16\00:21:07.34 that was called Niger, and 00:21:07.44\00:21:08.82 Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, 00:21:09.02\00:21:11.51 which had been brought up 00:21:11.61\00:21:13.39 with Herod the tetrarch, 00:21:13.49\00:21:15.26 and Saul. As they ministered 00:21:15.36\00:21:17.87 to the Lord and fasted, 00:21:17.99\00:21:19.51 the Holy Ghost said, 00:21:19.65\00:21:21.76 'Separate me Barnabas and Saul 00:21:21.93\00:21:24.42 for the work whereunto I have 00:21:24.52\00:21:26.51 called them. ' And when they had 00:21:26.61\00:21:29.21 fasted and prayed, 00:21:29.31\00:21:30.47 and laid their hands on them, 00:21:30.57\00:21:32.63 they sent them away. " 00:21:32.73\00:21:34.47 Isn't that awesome? "The Holy Ghost said... " 00:21:34.57\00:21:37.46 The Holy Ghost didn't speak audibly, 00:21:37.56\00:21:39.61 He spoke through prophecy. 00:21:39.71\00:21:41.48 Next, the gifts of the Spirit may be used to build up 00:21:41.58\00:21:46.09 the body of Christ. I Corinthians 14:3 says: 00:21:46.19\00:21:49.89 "But he that prophesieth 00:21:49.99\00:21:51.48 speaketh unto men to edification - get this - edification, 00:21:51.58\00:21:55.64 exhortation, and comfort. " 00:21:55.82\00:21:58.02 Next, the gift of prophecy can be used to teach. 00:21:58.12\00:22:01.30 I Corinthians 14:31 says: 00:22:01.40\00:22:03.74 "For ye may all prophesy 00:22:03.84\00:22:06.32 one by one," - why? - 00:22:06.42\00:22:08.11 "that all may learn, and all 00:22:08.21\00:22:10.24 may be comforted. " 00:22:10.34\00:22:11.31 This gift of the Spirit can be used also to win people 00:22:11.33\00:22:14.84 for Christ. I Corinthians 14:23-25 says: 00:22:14.94\00:22:18.18 "If therefore the whole church 00:22:18.28\00:22:19.54 be come together into one place, 00:22:19.64\00:22:21.25 and all speak with tongues, 00:22:21.36\00:22:23.04 and there come in those that are 00:22:23.14\00:22:25.31 unlearned, or unbelievers, 00:22:25.41\00:22:27.84 will they not say 00:22:27.94\00:22:28.91 that ye are mad?" 00:22:28.92\00:22:30.37 [Ummm! I bet some of you have been into Pentecostal churches 00:22:30.47\00:22:33.79 that you didn't just think they 00:22:33.89\00:22:34.86 were mad, you thought their butter slipped off their bread] 00:22:34.87\00:22:37.33 "But if all prophesy and there 00:22:37.43\00:22:39.81 come in one that believeth not, 00:22:39.91\00:22:42.13 or one that is unlearned, 00:22:42.23\00:22:43.41 he is convinced of all, 00:22:43.51\00:22:44.48 he is judged of all: and thus 00:22:44.57\00:22:46.64 are the secrets of his heart 00:22:46.74\00:22:48.08 made known, made manifest 00:22:48.18\00:22:52.30 and so falling down on his face 00:22:52.40\00:22:53.84 he will worship God and report 00:22:53.94\00:22:55.27 that God is in you of a truth. " 00:22:55.37\00:22:57.73 Through the years I have witnessed the blatant 00:22:57.84\00:23:00.33 misappropriation of this wonderful gift 00:23:00.43\00:23:03.14 because most of the time it was not judged, and if it was, 00:23:03.24\00:23:06.40 it was judged incorrectly. 00:23:06.50\00:23:07.56 The correct way to judge any of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, 00:23:07.66\00:23:11.07 is always by the Word of God. 00:23:11.17\00:23:13.70 When we come back right after this break, 00:23:13.80\00:23:16.27 we are going to give you some simple ways to 00:23:16.37\00:23:19.26 judge prophecy. Don't go away. Be right back. 00:23:19.36\00:23:22.01 If you've been confused about what the Bible says 00:23:23.79\00:23:26.32 about the Holy Spirit's amazing gifts for the church, 00:23:26.42\00:23:28.71 You'll want to order your very own copy of this 13-part series. 00:23:28.81\00:23:32.22 It's available on DVD or video cassette from 3ABN 00:23:32.42\00:23:36.35 at a very special price. This 13-part series 00:23:36.45\00:23:39.69 with Pastor Hal Steenson makes a wonderful gift for a friend 00:23:39.76\00:23:42.85 or a family member. Just call us at: 00:23:42.95\00:23:44.52 and we'll be happy to take your order. 00:23:48.45\00:23:50.04 You may also order it online at: 00:23:50.17\00:23:51.14 Now here are some simple ways to judge prophecy. 00:24:09.51\00:24:12.10 Does it glorify the Godhead or does it center in on one's self? 00:24:12.20\00:24:15.27 says: "Howbeit when he, 00:24:16.79\00:24:18.16 the Spirit of truth, is come, 00:24:18.26\00:24:19.26 he will guide you into all truth 00:24:19.36\00:24:21.09 for he shall not speak of 00:24:21.19\00:24:22.16 himself; but whatsoever he shall 00:24:22.25\00:24:24.14 hear, that shall he speak 00:24:24.24\00:24:26.28 and he shall show you 00:24:26.38\00:24:27.36 things to come. He shall glorify 00:24:27.46\00:24:30.02 me; for he shall receive of mine 00:24:30.12\00:24:33.02 and shall show it unto you. " 00:24:33.12\00:24:35.17 I John 4 says: 00:24:35.27\00:24:36.71 "Beloved, believe not every 00:24:36.81\00:24:38.38 spirit but try the spirits 00:24:38.48\00:24:39.95 whether they are of God: 00:24:40.05\00:24:41.02 because many false prophets 00:24:41.05\00:24:42.84 are gone out into the world. 00:24:42.94\00:24:44.46 Hereby know ye the Spirit of 00:24:44.56\00:24:46.86 God: Every spirit that confesses 00:24:46.93\00:24:49.80 that Jesus Christ is come in the 00:24:49.90\00:24:51.69 flesh is of God. " 00:24:51.80\00:24:54.88 Now, does it agree with Scripture? 00:24:54.98\00:24:57.45 Isaiah 8 says: 00:24:57.56\00:24:59.67 "And when they shall say unto 00:24:59.77\00:25:01.16 you, Seek unto them that have 00:25:01.26\00:25:02.79 familiar spirits, and unto 00:25:02.89\00:25:04.79 wizards that peep, and that 00:25:04.89\00:25:06.36 mutter: should not a people seek 00:25:06.46\00:25:08.34 unto their God for the living 00:25:08.44\00:25:10.20 to the dead? 00:25:10.30\00:25:11.63 To the law and to the testimony: 00:25:11.73\00:25:13.72 if they speak not according 00:25:13.83\00:25:15.31 to the word, it is because there 00:25:15.41\00:25:16.98 is no light in them. " 00:25:17.08\00:25:20.18 Now the apostle Paul makes it very clear that the gifts of the 00:25:21.21\00:25:23.66 Holy Spirit are for every believer and not confined to the 00:25:23.77\00:25:27.01 select of the elect or to a limited number of superstars. 00:25:27.11\00:25:31.08 God intended every believer to have access to and manifest 00:25:31.18\00:25:34.97 the spiritual gifts. 00:25:35.07\00:25:36.04 Do false prophets figure in the picture? Let me tell you. 00:26:33.46\00:26:36.62 Do false prophets figure in the picture? 00:26:36.72\00:26:38.93 We knew a lady in Lakeland, Florida, a pastor's wife. 00:26:39.03\00:26:43.28 Her pastor moved a man out of the church because... 00:26:43.31\00:26:47.53 he was a false prophet and could not get him to stop 00:26:47.63\00:26:53.22 prophesying in the parking lot [we call them parking lot 00:26:53.33\00:26:56.01 prophets] and in so doing that this "false prophet" encountered 00:26:56.11\00:27:00.65 this pastor's wife about six months later and she was 00:27:00.75\00:27:04.29 pregnant carrying their second child. And he walked up to her 00:27:04.39\00:27:07.82 in a meeting, and he said to her "The Lord would say unto you 00:27:07.93\00:27:12.74 that because your husband would not receive me as a prophet 00:27:12.84\00:27:16.25 that you are going to bring forth a deformed child. " 00:27:16.35\00:27:19.91 She was taken aback, but a little lady standing next to her 00:27:20.01\00:27:24.26 turned to her and said, "Mattie, were you edified? 00:27:24.36\00:27:30.19 Were you exhorted, were you comforted?" And Mattie said, 00:27:30.29\00:27:31.84 "No, I wasn't. " And this little lady, her name was Marty, 00:27:31.94\00:27:35.87 turned to that so-called prophet and said, "I rebuke you 00:27:35.97\00:27:40.93 in Jesus' name. " And that's what we need to do. 00:27:41.03\00:27:44.54 We do not need to embrace the fallacy of the gift of prophecy. 00:27:44.65\00:27:48.78 We need to receive the truth of it such as the gift that God 00:27:48.89\00:27:52.36 gave to Ellen White, be open to it, and understand the truth 00:27:52.46\00:27:56.10 of it and the error of it. So let's not lean unto our own 00:27:56.20\00:27:59.86 understanding but let's hear the Spirit of God and the 00:27:59.96\00:28:02.51 Word of God with our hearts and then speak if from our 00:28:02.61\00:28:05.35 hearts that others might be encouraged and exhorted. 00:28:05.45\00:28:08.98 In the name of Jesus. 00:28:09.09\00:28:10.06 On our next Heaven's Point of View, we will start on two 00:28:31.18\00:28:33.72 of the most controversial of the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit. 00:28:33.83\00:28:36.58 Tongues and the interpretation of tongues. 00:28:36.68\00:28:38.82 We are going to be on this subject for several programs 00:28:38.92\00:28:41.14 so check your 3ABN World for the dates and times. 00:28:41.24\00:28:43.27 See you there. 00:28:43.37\00:28:44.99