How the Gift of Prophecy Comes

 

(11-ᴍɪɴ. ʀᴇᴀᴅ)

The gift of prophecy comes 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘶𝘱𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯; and 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴—but there are also things 𝘸𝘦 can do to see this particular gift find full expression both through ourselves personally and in our meetings.

So let’s take a moment and remind ourselves how prophecy flows…

Prophecy is one of nine manifestations of the Spirit, given for our meetings:

𝐈 𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐒 𝟏𝟐:𝟖-𝟏𝟎

𝟖 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐝𝐨𝐦; 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭;

𝟗 𝐓𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭; 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭;

𝟏𝟎 𝐓𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐬; 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐄𝐂𝐘; 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐬; 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬; 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬:

The manifestation of the Spirit, including the gift of prophecy, is given for our main meetings too (not just for night meetings, small-groups or camps):

𝐈 𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐒 𝟏𝟒:𝟐𝟑,𝟐𝟒

𝟐𝟑 𝐈𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬...

𝟐𝟒 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐲...

Each one of us are eligible to receive the gifts of the Spirit:

𝐈 𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐒 𝟏𝟐:𝟕

𝟕 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐥.

The goal, it says, is to profit withal—that everyone profits, or benefits.

So, it is beneficial to have the manifestation of the Spirit in our meetings. But many contemporary church pastors have shied away from having the manifestation of the Spirit in their main services, I think because they felt concerned what visitors might think.

But notice in the following verses what a profoundly positive impact Paul said the manifestation of the Spirit—including the gift of prophecy—can have on an unbelieving visitor in a church's main meeting:

𝐈 𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐒 𝟏𝟒:𝟐𝟒-𝟐𝟓

𝟐𝟒 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐧𝐨𝐭, 𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝, 𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐣𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐥𝐥:

𝟐𝟓 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.

That's a desirable outcome, isn’t it!

We needn't ever feel therefore that we need to shield visitors from the manifestation of the Spirit. (Imagine, wanting to shield unsaved people from the Holy Spirit—He's the best soul-winner ever!)

No, the solution is not to throw the baby out with the bathwater: desire the manifestation of the Spirit, yes—without neglecting common sense, courtesy and protocol.

In fact, be excellent! At the manifestation of the Spirit, and in every other way—both.

Excellence is a value which Paul himself mentioned in his whole discussion about the public manifestation of the Spirit (see I Corinthians 12:31;14:12)—but in placing value on excellence, Paul never lost sight of the value of having the manifestation of the Spirit.

The two are entirely mutually compatible: we can be a Holy Ghost church, and at the same time be excellent in every way—that all may profit.

These different gifts are distributed to each of us, as the Spirit wills:

𝟏𝟏 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭, 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥.

Prophecy is given as the Spirit wills.

When I was in my late teens or early 20s, I remember kneeling by my bed—this was in our family-home at the time, at Raceview, Qld—and I felt the Lord say to me that day, "I'm giving you the gift of prophecy..."

Like each of the gifts, prophecy is given as the Spirit wills—yet you can also desire it, and ask for it—and from time to time we might need to stir it up again: that's something we can do.

For example, we can desire again for the Spirit to be manifest in our meetings, including the gift of prophecy.

The Word of God wouldn’t have commended desiring spiritual gifts if desiring it can’t make any difference.

𝐈 𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐒 𝟏𝟒:𝟏

𝟏 𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐠𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐬, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐲.

We can also be zealous of spiritual gifts:

𝟏𝟐 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐨 𝐲𝐞, 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐳𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐠𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐬, 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡.

It's even okay to covet to prophesy:

𝟑𝟗 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞, 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐧, 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬.

Paul commended the Corinthian congregation for coming behind in no gift, in their meetings:

𝐈 𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐒 𝟏:𝟕

𝟕 𝐒𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐧𝐨 𝐠𝐢𝐟𝐭; 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭:

What would it look like today, if it was said of your church's main-meetings, that your congregation comes behind in no gift—lacks nothing of the move and manifestation of the Spirit? That's what Paul was saying about the meetings at Corinth!

We can stir up a gift of God that is in us:

𝐈 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐘 𝟏:𝟔,𝟕

𝟔 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐈 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐫 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐨𝐝, 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬

Notice it says, "I put thee in remembrance": stirring up a gift of God which is in us can start by remembering that we already have the gift. That means it's possible to forget to stir it up.

There can be hindrances on our part to seeing the full expression of the Spirit in our meetings.

Like, fear:

𝟕 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫; 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝.

And notice below, Paul said, "Let us prophesy..."

That indicates something we do. It takes faith to speak-up and prophesy:

𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐒 𝟏𝟐:𝟔

𝟔 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐠𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐬, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐲, 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐮𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐲 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡;

It says the gifts are given according to the grace that is given to us. But grace can be received.

𝐈 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐒 𝟓:𝟏𝟗

𝟏𝟗 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭. 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬.

It is possible to quench the Spirit; and to despise prophesyings—or we can allow the move of the Spirit; and even stir up a gift.

We can’t prophesy out of our own minds: it’s as the Spirit wills—but most of the time, as Smith Wigglesworth reportedly said: God is more eager to give than we are to ask.

𝐈 𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐒 𝟏𝟒:𝟑𝟗

𝟑𝟗 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞, 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐧, 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬.

Instead of ever screening the move of the Spirit out from our runsheets, we are to covet it and not forbid it.

𝟒𝟎 𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐛𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫.

Some people only try to follow the "decently and in order" part, but not the "let all things be done" part!

(And very often, 'decently and in order' tends to be defined differently and more rigidly than Paul himself was really advocating—making Paul’s advice at odds with the rest of the Bible.

Throughout the Book of Acts, and also the Old Testament, it happened that the Spirit came on people and many prophesied (and in New Testament times, spoke in tongues) at once and didn’t stop. Paul’s advice didn’t contravene that sort of thing. That’s not indecent nor disorderly, by any rational standard Biblical or common. But what was seemingly happening at Corinth was different and was borderline. Paul’s advice addresses what was in danger of happening there at Corinth: he wasn’t disallowing what can legitimately happen whenever a group gets filled with the Spirit at once, as happened throughout the Bible.

"Let all things be done..." he says.

In other words, have the move of the Spirit, of course, in your main services: be a Holy Ghost church...

…only, do so "...decently and in order".

Meaning, have excellence too, in everything.

Both. At the same time. It wasn't an either/or proposition.

That's the way to go, don't you reckon?

Now I want us to see how broadly God is willing to give His Spirit, in these days, and how broadly He is willing for people to prophesy—as if we are more willing than He!

In Numbers 11 God told Moses to gather 70 elders to Him; and He said:

𝟏𝟕 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐬 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦…[to share the burden of the people with Moses]

As a prophet chosen by God, the Spirit was upon Moses. Then notice God said three times, "..I will..."

I will come down; I will take of the Spirit which is upon thee; and I will will put it upon them...

God put His Spirit on the 70 elders because He willed it.

Now notice what happened:

𝟐𝟓 ...𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐞𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞.

They prophesied, all 70, and did not cease!

(And that was okay—Paul's advice in I Corinthians 14, grasped as he intended it, did not contradict such a scenario.)

Actually, two of the 70 had remained in the camp. Notice what happened to both of them:

𝟐𝟔 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐩...𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦; 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐥𝐞: 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐩.

The Spirit rested on them, because they were part of the 70–in other words, because God had chosen them, by His own will.

And they prophesied. Both of them.

Joshua wanted it stopped!

𝟐𝟕 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐧 𝐚 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝, 𝐄𝐥𝐝𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐚𝐝 𝐝𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐩.

𝟐𝟖 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐡𝐮𝐚 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐮𝐧, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬, 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝, 𝐌𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬, 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦.

𝟐𝟗 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐦, 𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐤𝐞?...

But Moses didn't hog the prophetic office for himself: he didn't want them forbidden from prophesying.

(And that really was the spirit of Paul's advice to the Corinthians too: Paul wasn't downplaying the value of the move of the Spirit, only he didn't want them envying, talking over the top of each other, forbidding anyone else from expressing something the Spirit was giving them. Paul desired for the Corinthians to show the same meekness and politeness towards each other that Moses showed here.)

Now notice what Moses said (verse 29):

...𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐃'𝐒 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐃 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦!

Moses wished all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them, not only on the 70!

But under the Old Covenant, God's Spirit didn't come upon everyone:

𝐈 𝐒𝐀𝐌𝐔𝐄𝐋 𝟗:𝟗

𝟗 (𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐬𝐫𝐚𝐞𝐥, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐨𝐝, 𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐤𝐞, 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐮𝐬 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐫: 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐫.)”

In Old Covenant times, whenever someone wanted to enquire of God, he'd go to a prophet—because not everyone had the Spirit upon him.

But let's see what the prophet Joel foretold about our day:

𝐉𝐎𝐄𝐋 𝟐:𝟐𝟖,𝟐𝟗

𝟐𝟖 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐡; 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐲, 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬, 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬:

𝟐𝟗 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐝𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐈 𝐩𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭.

God is now pouring out His Spirit upon all flesh, and they shall see visions and prophesy! Even children—everyone.

All flesh—that includes you, and me.

Peter said, on the day of Pentecost, that Joel's prediction was now fulfilled—and would continue until the "great and notable Day of the Lord".

God's promise extends to you and me:

𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐒 𝟐:𝟑𝟗

𝟑𝟗 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐟𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐟𝐟, 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥.

God made a New Covenant with both houses of Israel, based on better promises—and the same promise is unto you: everyone. Moses wished for this scenario!

It is the will of God that everyone who believes in Jesus receive the Spirit!

Under the Old Covenant law, they were servants—but in the New Covenant, we are sons.

𝐆𝐀𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐒 𝟒:𝟔,𝟕

𝟔 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐲𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐒𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬, 𝐜𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐀𝐛𝐛𝐚, 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫.

𝟕 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐧𝐨 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐚 𝐬𝐨𝐧; 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐚 𝐬𝐨𝐧, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭.

Moses also laid his hands on Joshua, resulting in Joshua becoming full of the Spirit:

𝐃𝐄𝐔𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐎𝐌𝐘 𝟑𝟒:𝟗

𝟗 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐡𝐮𝐚 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐮𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐝𝐨𝐦; 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐦...

But in these gospel-days, the apostles laid hands on everyone and they all received the Spirit, like at Samaria:

𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐒 𝟖:𝟏𝟒-𝟏𝟕

𝟏𝟒 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐉𝐞𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐦 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐨𝐝, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧:

𝟏𝟓 𝐖𝐡𝐨, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧, 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐆𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭:

𝟏𝟔 (𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐞𝐭 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦: 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬.)

𝟏𝟕 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐆𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭.

One way we can be constantly filled with the Spirit, is by singing and giving thanks, in our meetings:

𝐄𝐏𝐇𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐒 𝟓:𝟏𝟖-𝟐𝟎

𝟏𝟖 ......𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭;

𝟏𝟗 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐲𝐦𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬, 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝;

𝟐𝟎 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭;

That's why we do so much singing in church—it refreshes us with the Holy Spirit.

Elisha knew the role of music in relation to prophesying too:

𝐈𝐈 𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 𝟑:𝟏𝟓

𝟏𝟓 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐥. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐥 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐦.

Even under the Old Covenant, the ministry of prophesying and music and singing often came together (see I Chronicles 25).

But once we're all filled afresh by singing, it's time to stop the music and allow the move of God in the meeting. Let the sight and sound of the touch of the Spirit be the thing.

Afterwards, once the Spirit has been allowed to move freely without having to compete with any sound from the stage, the congregation will once again have plenty to praise and thank God for. That's the time to start singing—and even dancing—again! But for the meantime, persisting in having continuous background singing or music can distract from the full move and manifestation of the Spirit among and through the congregation. Try it, you'll see.

Like young Samuel, we can learn to recognise the voice of God confidently (see I Samuel chapter 3.)

Prophesying often involves seeing visions, or the gift of discerning of spirits. (In early Israel, prophets were in fact called Seers, at first.) Joel foresaw that in our gospel-day, even children shall see visions and prophesy, and old men shall dream dreams.

Not all visions involve falling into a trance (e.g., Acts 10:10)—some visions involve simply seeing a picture. Then you can ask God what the picture means. Or, you can simply tell what you see, then perhaps God will reveal to another person what it means.

Prophesying can also involve the gifts of the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge—but it may not necessarily.

Sometimes the gift can be stirred-up in us, as God wills, by coming into the company of others who are prophesying (see I Samuel 10):

Samuel prophesied to Saul that he would meet a company of prophets with a musical band going in front of them; and that they would prophesy: and the Spirit of the LORD would come upon him, and he would prophesy with them—as if he was turned into another man, like he was given a different heart.

And it happened: a company of prophets met Saul; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.

When anyone who knew him before saw him prophesying among the prophets, they said to one another, "Is Saul also among the prophets?"

Saul prophesied because it was God's will—but also because he came into the company of others who were prophesying.

A gift can be stirred up in you by association.

Sometime later Saul sent messengers to arrest David, but when they came and saw a company of prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God came on Saul's messengers, and they also prophesied.

When Saul was told what happened, he sent other messengers, but they likewise ended-up prophesying.

So Saul sent a third lot of messengers, but instead of arresting David, they ended-up prophesying too!

Finally Saul went himself. And the Spirit of God came on him too, and he prophesied nonstop all the way until he reached another town. He prophesied in front of Samuel—he was on the floor all that day and that night.

Powerful hey, that someone began prophesying again—by God's will, yes—but also by just coming into the company of another prophet or prophets.

Lastly, let’s ask God to pour out His Spirit, and that He will grant visions and prophesyings in our meetings.

And having asked, let us then be ready to make room for it on purpose in our meetings.

"Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field" (Zechariah 10:1).