LESSON 106
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT - PART 10

INTRODUCTION: We have learnt a lot about the three revelation gifts: the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge and the discerning of spirits. Now, we wish to begin a study of the three inspirational gifts: prophecy, divers kinds of tongues and the interpretation of tongues. We shall start with prophecy. This is because this gift is a link between revelation and inspiration. I Cor. 12:10. May God make this valuable gift available to us today.

1. THERE ARE THREE SOURCES OF PROPHECY
Ordinarily, prophecy means revealing the mind of God over certain issues either at present or in the future. There are two types of prophecy: direct and indirect. Also there are three sources of prophecy namely, the devil, the human spirit and God the Holy Spirit. The devil and his evil spirits constitute the most dangerous source of prophecy. This is because the fake prophets possessed or controlled by these evil spirits actually hear from the devil. They can truly identify your problems but will never suggest the true solutions. They can tell you a certain measure of your past history only to mislead you concerning the future.

1Kings 22:20-22; Acts 16:16-18; Rom. 8:16; Jer. 23:16-17; Joel 2:28.

2. DIVINELY GIVEN PROPHECY COULD COME IN THREE WAYS
The Divine Source of prophecy is God the Holy Spirit. However, God send His word through (a) the gift of prophecy (b) the office of a prophet or (c) the Scriptures. There are several situations the future of which can be accurately predicted from the Bible. For example, when Elijah pronounced that there would be no rain or dew in Israel, he based his prophecy on the written Word of God, again when he said there would be rain again, he was also solidly supported by the written word of God

Isa. 3:10; Job. 11:14-19; Ps. 34:10; Isa. 3:11; Eze. 18:21-23: 18:24; I Kings 17:1; Dent. 11:16-17; I Kings 18:41; II Chr. 7:13-14.

3. TRUE AND FALSE PROPHECIES CAN BE RECOGNIZED
There is a purpose for prophecies as stated clearly in the word of God. Also, a true prophecy has the following characteristics among others: (i) fulfillment (ii) accompanying conditions, (iii) agreement with God’s word, (iv) public acknowledgment (v) purity of the vessel, (vi) and the Spirit of the message. A false prophet can also be recognized by the way he opposes the truth, his failure to expose sin because of his own unholy life and his appeal, directly or indirectly, for money.

I Cor. 14:3; Jer. 18:7-8; II Chr. 7:14; Rev. 10:10; Matt. 23:37- 39; Jer. 23:21-22; Num. 16:28-35; Jer. 28:9; II Pet. 2:1-2; Acts. 13:8; II Tim. 4:2-4; Lam. 2:14; I Tim. 3:5: I Pet. 5:2.