SEEING THINGS TO COME 3
(week 09/01)
Olubi Johnson
Principles for correct interpretation and application
In this article, we will look at how to correctly interpret and apply what the Holy Spirit reveals so as not to be deceived by the devil who also knows the Word and can manipulate circumstances.
Now, we need to understand that all interpretations and applications of types and shadows in the Word given by the Holy Spirit will never contradict any principle revealed in the rest of the scriptures:
Isaiah 8:20 KJV: To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
Contradict the character of God: lovingkindness, justice and righteousness:
Jeremiah 9:24 KJV: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.
For instance, when Satan told the Lord Jesus to jump from the top of the temple, since it was written that the angels of God would protect him; what Satan said was in the Word of God but its application to attract cheap human popularity was contrary to the character of God which says love does not display itself haughtily:
Luke 4:9-11 KJV: And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
1 Corinthians 13:4 KJV: Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
The Word, the heart and the circumstances:
Also, we need to understand that when we pray in the spirit, the Holy Spirit, as it were, firstly, paints supernaturally, a picture or revelation in our minds gradually overtime, of the words we were speaking in unknown tongues. This picture or understanding is usually rather vague: in fact we would just call it a perception or impression.
Secondly, this perception or impression is confirmed, clarified and amplified or magnified by shadows in the written word that the Holy Spirit reveals to us.
Thirdly, these shadows point to a corresponding physical situation or circumstance that only God could have supernaturally brought about.
So we have 3 things that must be correctly linked to one another to be certain that what you are seeing through prayer in the Spirit and the Word is really from God and not the devil or your fleshly desires:
1 The revelation, perception or impression in the heart.
2 The shadows of the scripture whose interpretation and application must not contradict any other principle in the entire Word of God or the character of God: lovingkindness, righteousness and justice.
3 Supernatural corresponding physical circumstances.
We see these 3 things revealed in the Scripture when Jesus was teaching about seeing and hearing God through the Word:
John 5:36-39 KJV: But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
I John 5:6 KJV: This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
These scriptures reveal that we can hear God’s voice and see His shape through His Word by His Spirit.
So we see the works or supernatural physical circumstances bearing witness; the Father through the revelation of the Holy Spirit in our hearts bearing witness and also the scriptures testifying or bearing witness.
To be certain that what we are receiving is of God the Spirit of God will bear witness to the truth in these 3 areas in this order of priority: The Word, our hearts and finally our circumstances.
Notice that the truth of the Word takes priority over whatever revelation or impression we may have in our hearts:
Proverbs 28:26 KJV: He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely (i.e. according to the Word of God), he shall be delivered.
I John 3:20 KJV: For if our heart condemn us, God (by His written Word) is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
Necessity of prophetic teaching and preaching
We need 2 or 3 shadows from the Word to confirm, clarify and magnify impressions or revelations we get from the Holy Spirit through praying in tongues:
2 Corinthians 13:1 KJV: This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
These 2 or 3 witnesses are like pieces of jigsaw puzzle that fit together to form a clear picture. A useful illustration in this regard is that with 2 points you can draw a line that gives a direction but with a third point we can draw a triangle that gives a shape: three witnesses gives a clearer shape or picture than just two witnesses.
Usually we do not get all the 3 witnesses by ourselves through our own personal prayer or Bible reading and study. God reserves one or two to be brought to us through the prophetic ministry: usually prophetic teaching and preaching.
Sometimes the confirming prophetic word comes through the gift of prophecy or visions or dreams; however the confirming or establishing word that comes from the written word through prophetic teaching and preaching of types and shadows is more sure than that which comes through prophecy or visions or dreams:
2 Peter 1:16-21 KJV: For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Notice here that the prophecy of scripture is said to be more sure than the vision and voice heard from heaven on the mount of transfiguration.
Developed prophets preach and teach what the Spirit of God is currently saying to the Church using types and shadows from the Word. Many of these types and shadows they use are the missing pieces that we need to confirm, clarify and magnify through the Word what we believe God is saying to us in our hearts. Furthermore these types and shadows point to corresponding supernatural physical circumstances in our lives further confirming what God is saying and doing.
2 Chronicles 20:20 KJV: And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
This is why prophets are typified as the sons of Issachar who knew the times: what God is presently saying, and what Israel or the Church ought to do:
1 Chronicles 12:32 KJV: And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.
In our next article, we will look at some practical examples of types and shadows pointing to and showing things to come.
