Prophecy

• Biblical scholars have observed that prophecy takes up 40% of the Old

and New Testaments.

Laurie Beth Jones

• In her book say, “My research has led me to believe that at least 40% of our own lives are based on prophecies which we have either been given, or clamed for ourselves.”

Numbers 11:29 (HCSB)

A young man ran and reported to Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” Joshua son of Nun, assistant to Moses since his youth, responded, “Moses, my lord, stop them!” 29 But Moses asked him, “Are you jealous on my account? If only all the LORD’s people were prophets, and the LORD would place His Spirit on them.” 30 Then Moses returned to the camp along with the elders of Israel.

1 Corinthians 14:1-6 (BBE)

• 1 Go after love; still desiring to have the things which the Spirit gives, but most of all that you may have the prophet's power. 2 For he who makes use of tongues is not talking to men but to God; because no one has the sense of what he is saying; but in the Spirit he is talking of secret things.

1 Corinthians 14:1-6 (BBE) cont.

• 3 But the word of the prophet gives men knowledge and comfort and strength. 4

He who makes use of tongues may do good to himself; but he who gives the prophet's word does good to the church.

1 Corinthians 14:1-6 (BBE) Cont.

• 5 Now though it is my desire for you all to have the power of tongues, it would give me more pleasure to be hearing the prophet's word from you; for this is a greater thing than using tongues, if the sense is not given at the same time, for the good of the church. 6 But, now, my brothers, if I come to you using tongues, what profit will it be to you, if I do not give you a revelation, or knowledge, or the word of the prophet, or teaching?

The Word “Prophet”

• One of the root prefixes for “prophet” is “pro”—which is derived from Greek and Latin, meaning: forward, advancement, movement. The second root of the word comes from the Greek “phetes”—which means speaker.

The Word “Prophet” (cont.)

…So, we have in the word prophet the picture of a speaker who goes in front of

someone in order to advance their movement!

Important Aspects of Prophecy

• One of the most important aspects of prophecy is that it must be spoken, heard and received. “A renowned musical trainer was consulted by a group of opera sings who, for some reason could not hit particular notes with in an octave even though the notes were within their range.

Important Aspects (Cont.)

After conducting extensive tests on their vocal cords, the trainer decided to check their hearing. He discovered that the singers could not express notes they could not hear!”

Speaking and Hearing

• James 1:19 (HCSB) 19 My dearly loved brothers, understand this: everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, James 1:19 (MSG) 19 Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear.

The Voice of The Prophet…

…should flow from the mouth of every husband and every wife! Each should speak to one another with words that have a magnet like pull of forward advancement within their lives—both individually and collectively!

• It should be a voice of declaration! Therefore the tongue must be tamed!

James 3:6 (AMP)6 And the tongue is a fire. [The tongue is a] world of wickedness set among our members, contaminating and depraving the whole body and setting on fire the wheel of birth (the cycle of man’s nature), being itself ignited by hell (Gehenna).

James Continued Theme

• James 1:26 (AMP) 26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious (piously observant of the external duties of his faith) and does not bridle his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person’s religious service is worthless (futile, barren).

I. The Importance of The Tongue (3:1-2)

A. Speech is a Barometer of Spirituality. It reveals what is in the heart (Matt. 12:36, 37). Though small, the tongue is capable of causing great damage. Anyone who can control his or her tongue is a perfect (totally mature) person, able to keep the entire body in check.

Heart and Mouth Disease

• Matthew 12:36 (AMP) 36 But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every idle (inoperative, nonworking) word they speak.

• Matthew 12:36 (MSG) 36 Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously.

The Egyptian King Amasis…

once sent a sacrifice to his god and requested the priest to send back the best and worst part of the animal. The priest sent back the tongue, which, he said, met both demands.

II. The Illustrations of The Tongue (3:3-5)

A. How it can control (3:3–4)1. It is as a bridle to a horse (3:3).2. It is as a rudder to a ship (3:4).

B. How it can consume (3:5): It is like a spark, which, though small, can

destroy great forest.

III. The Iniquity of the Tongue (3:6)

• It can be set on fire by hell itself, utterly corrupting and destroying its owner.

• James 3:6 (AMP) 6 And the tongue is a fire. [The tongue is a] world of wickedness set among our members, contaminating and depraving the whole body and setting on fire the wheel of birth (the cycle of man’s nature), being itself ignited by hell (Gehenna).

• James 3:6 (MSG) 6 A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.

…a world of iniquity

• A world of iniquity—This is an unusual form of speech, but the meaning is plain enough; WORLD signifies here a mass, a great collection, an abundance. We use the term in the same sense—a world of troubles, a world of toil, a world of anxiety; for great troubles, oppressive toil, most distressing anxiety.

IV. Incorrigibility of the Tongue (3:7-8)

A. People have been able to train the brute creatures (3:7).

B. No person has been able to train the tongue (3:8).

V. Inconsistency of the Tongue (3:9-12)

A. The contradiction (3:9–10): It tries to do two things simultaneously.

1. It tries to praise God (3:9a, 10a).

2. It tries to curse people (3:9b, 10b).

B. The conclusion (3:11–12): It cannot do these two things simultaneously.

1. Fresh water and salt water cannot flow from the same spring (3:11, 12c).2. A fig tree cannot bear olives (3:12a).3. A grapevine cannot produce

figs (3:12b).

VI. Instructions for the Tongue

(3:13–18)A. The path it should follow (3:13, 17–18):

In order to control the tongue, the owner should always allow God’s wisdom.

B. The path it should flee (3:14–16): The owner should never allow his or her tongue to be influenced by Satan.

The N.E.E.D Principle

• N – Is it Necessary• E – Does it Emancipate• E – Does it Energize• D – Does it Dignify