Believing Prophets 2
(week 45/04)
Olubi Johnson
In part one of this article we saw the importance of believing prophetic messages. This week we will see an example of how to properly judge prophetic messages.
1 Corinthians 14: 29 NKJV: Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.
1Thessalonians 5: 19-21 NKJV: Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good
This means take prophetic messages seriously, judge them in the light of the Written Word and the witness of your heart and only act on what is in line with the Word and the witness you have. Now if you are not sure of the witness in your heart you can never go wrong acting on what is in line with the Word because your witness may be inaccurate or absent because of your spiritual slothfulness in prayer and the Word (Pr.28.26. Jam.3.14-16).
For example, Paul; in Acts 21 received prophetic words from, firstly brethren at Tyre and then Agabus.
Acts21:4, 10-14 NKJV: And finding disciples, we stayed there seven days. They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem. and as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 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.'” Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. 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.” So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.”
We see that the brethren at Tyre were not prophets but simply prophesied as all believers are exhorted to do (1Cor.14.31); They said Paul should not go to Jerusalem.
However, the Spirit, as revealed by Agabus, a developed prophet, did not say Paul should not go to Jerusalem but that there would be difficulties at Jerusalem which he should be ready for and overcome so he could go on to Rome to witness to the Emperor concerning the gospel of Christ and write the epistles while in detention. This was God’s ultimate purpose for Paul, which Paul had a witness about and fulfilled:
Acts 9: 15-16 NKJV: But the Lord said to him, ” Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake”
Even though, what the brethren at Tyre prophesied was not wrong they added a human element by saying Paul should not go to Jerusalem. They discerned accurately, the danger in Jerusalem by the spirit of prophecy but added the human element by emotions. Paul accurately tested what they said but only held fast to that which was good; he would prepare for the danger in Jerusalem, overcome it and go on to Rome to fulfill God’s purpose for his life and ministry.
So believe prophets, judge prophetic messages and hold fast to that which is good!
