Learning The Meaning And Use Of Prophesying

Let two or three prophets speak,

and let the others judge.

But if anything isn't revealed

to another who sits by,

let the first keep silent.

For you all can prophesy one at a time,

that all may learn and all may be encouraged.

And the spirits of the prophets

are subject to the prophets.

For God is not the author of confusion

but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

1 Corinthians 14: 29 -- 33

            Paul continues to address the use of spiritual gifts and as before in regards to this speaking of "tongues" that one was to speak and then others would speak when that one was finished, in other words there would be order in the use of that gift.  This is true also of those who would wish to speak to the congregation, and remember to be a prophet one must be speaking the words of God, and not necessarily speaking of some future event, and this also must be done in order, one at a time.  Remember the goal is to edify the church.  So that we will not be confused as our English language does not always carry the finer nuances of the Greek language, and this would be true when we are using the word "Judge."  For this is what the apostle Paul said was to be done that there would be those who would judge what the other was saying and this judgment was to be based upon what the Scriptures, that is, the Old Testament recorded by the prophets that spoke for God in olden times.  To help us in understanding this word "Judge" I will once again give you the Greek word in what they Greek word meant when a Greek speaking person heard the word: λαλείτωσαν, this word is present, imperative, active, in the third person.  First, and foremost, it is to be presently acted upon, for this is a direct command, a directive that should be actively pursued and in this case by those who were hearing what the other was revealing as a prophet.  The Greek hearing person would understand that by the tense used that a person would make a declaration, to give utterance to that which was spoken and in this case, to reveal what was spoken, therefore one who heard the other would judge by the foundational basis from the old scripture as to the truth of what was being spoken.  This we also ought to do today, for our work is to ensure that the congregation is not only edified, but also to reveal those who are teaching falsely, possibly even heresy.  God is not a God of confusion, and we are to ensure that conflicting statements that cannot be confirmed by scripture do, not confuse the congregation.  As Authentic Christians who are studying God's Word, and have the responsibility for the congregation and what is exercised, what they, or you hear, ensuring whether or not those things are of divine inspiration or not.  Once again we are to be reminded that we are not speaking about those outside the congregation, those who claim to be atheists, desire nothing to do with Christianity.  We are talking about those who claim to be Christian and are even using scripture to prove their points making themselves seem to be speaking Divine words when in actuality they are false prophets, or simply pretenders to Divine inspiration and act as true prophets of God. As Authentic Christians we are to judge.  We are not to simply sit by and tacitly approve whatever is said or done even when it is said that it is Christian.  Now when Paul speaks about the spirits of the prophets he had in mind those spiritual gifts that powerfully influence those to whom the Holy Spirit had given a gift, and to understand that by our judging we must ensure that they are not simply lost in their theological possession by the leading from them their reason.  When God by means of divine inspiration, that inspiration is not to cause people to be like those diabolical heathen priest, ungovernable, that only prompts to act as if they were beside themselves; no, those who have actual divine inspiration are to be sober, calm, and capable of regular guidance.  Therefore, the man who is inspired by the Spirit of God will observe order and decency in delivering his revelations.  Today we are wonderfully gifted by God to have His word for us to read and study.  God divinely had men who were inspired by Him to record for us what we need to live accordingly to His commandments, principles, and precepts.  There is no need, as was in the early Church before the Bible, to have this special divine revelation.  Yet, there are those churches who believe that God is supernaturally revealing to people what He would have them say or do and this is outside of scripture.  Why would God have need to do that if His word is complete in all that we need?  To think otherwise is only to say that God's word is not complete.  This is blasphemous, this is heresy, this is only spoken by those who are false prophets, for as an authentic Christian we follow what God's Word says and it tells us that the perfect when it comes is all we need.  And, as spoken and written about earlier in my blog that the Greek word used there in the context that the word lie is in is not speaking of a person, rather it is speaking about a thing, and that thing can only be a complete canon, the Bible.  So why would we go running around looking for special revelation will we have all we need?

            Well beginning tomorrow, we will have completed Paul's writing an admonition in regards to spiritual gifts and I will enter into a subject that has been and is very contentious.  Therefore, I will go slow and examine scripture, the Greek words and tenses, using were ever the Bible speaks about this subject, or has given us how to understand this subject.

My son, give me your heart,

            and let your eyes observe

my ways.

                        Proverbs 23: 26

Be wise and strong

Richard L. Crumb