This is from a discussion we were having in the yahoo group, I thought it would be good to post it here and get everyone's thoughts.
--- In molokanforum####yahoogroups.com, "vassilinusa" <vassilinusa####y...> wrote:
>
> --- In molokanforum####yahoogroups.com, "micahhozen" <micahhozen####y...>
> wrote:
> >
> > > The written word is the spoken word.
> > > The Words that were spoken, were wrtitten.
> > > The living Word is Jesus Himself.
> > >
> > > Bill
> >
> > I agree with this statement, that Christ himself is the Living
> Word.
> > Also that the written Word of God is the Holy Scriptures. Do you
> > believe that prophecy can reveal things that aren't specified in
> The
> > Scriptures? If God has favor on a person; can he, by his Grace
> only,
> > reveal things to them? And could they be true?
> >
> > As long as:
> > Isaiah 8:20 "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not
> > according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."
> >
> > Because of this.
> >
> > 1 Corinthians 13:12
> > "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now
> I
> > know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known."
> >
> > Do you feel that when we are in the Spirit, things can be revealed
> to
> > us, mysteries of God? That we can then share with others? As long
> as
> > they are in accordance with Scriptures? I would love to hear your
> > thoughts on this.
> >
> > Take Care,
> >
> > Micah
>
> You asked, "If God has favor on a person; can he, by his Grace only,
> > reveal things to them?"
>
> The question that I ask is why or for what purpose.
> Are reveleations from God for entertainment purposes.
> I do not believe that God would make revelations just to entertain us.
> Rather, if there is a revelation, then it is for a purpose.
>
> In a congregation, when there are prophetic revelations, I would
> again ask the question: what is the purpose. Is it entertainment. I
> am quite positive that God is not in the business of entertaining us.
> However, I have seen many church attendees expecting to be
> entertained. Furthermore, I have also seen a fair amount of nonsense
> and entertainment performed by the prophets and spiritual workers.
>
> God does things for us based on need. Spiritual activity and
> revelations are not based on reward but need. Rewards are things we
> will get later. For now, we get what we need.
>
> In my opinion, and others will disagree, that spritual activity,
> revelations, and prophecy, are need based. Furthermore, greater
> spiritual revelations and so on is a sign of immaturity. A
> congregation that knows what is expected of it and is doing what it
> is supposed to be doing does not need reminders and rebukes from God.
> However, a congregation that is straying from its mission, or is not
> doing what it needs to be doing, needs constant reminders and chiding
> from God in order to get it back on track.
>
> Good luck
> Bill
Concerning your question about prophecy "why or for what purpose"
I definitely agree with you that revelations from God are not for entertainment purposes and that they should have a purpose. I also agree that there are many church attendees looking to be entertained. Not only in our churches, look at other churches they focus on their rock/pop music programs, and theatre. All to entertain, rather than the preaching of the Word.
It is as if many people are worrying about getting people into churches, trying to compete with hollywood and video games. They then are relying on their own invented schemes rather than the power of the Holy Spirit to draw the soul to the Lord. But that is an entire different conversation.
I also agree that there is a lot of nonsense being done in the name of Christ. Not just prophecy either, but many men doing things in the name of Christ, but are not. I repeat what I posted above, "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isaiah 8:20
Even so, just because some men perform a true, important gift of The Holy Spirit wrongly, does that mean we discourage the growth and use of this gift? Namely prophecy?
I would again agree with you that prophecy, and all the gifts of God are need based. Is this what you are saying, that all of the gifts are need based, that by the Will of The Holy Spirit believers are moved to do what is required of them? Although if you are saying that only prophecy is like this, then I would like to ask where in Scripture this thought comes from?
Here are the reasons for prophecy:
1 Corinthians 14:3 "But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort."
You had also mentioned that if a church or individual people are doing what is required of them, "... they do not need constant reminders and rebukes from God..." The reason a lot of the new testament was written is because we are ALL fallible humans, and we ALL fall short of the glory of God, because we ALL have feet of clay. If you know someone who never needs encouragement, rebuking, or edification, then you have just found the Son of God. We all need help, God sends us prophets.
Concerning, "spiritual revelations ... is a sign of immaturity".
Please tell me then what your understanding is of this event in acts:
Acts 21:10 "And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done."
First, was apostle Paul immature, was that why he was warned by The Spirit? I wouldn't be one to say so. It seems that the Holy Spirit was letting Paul know what would happen soon. Possibly so that he ould prepare himself.
Also concerning "spiritual revelations ... is a sign of immaturity":
1 Corinthians 14:1 "Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
And again:
1 Corinthians 14:5 "I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying."
And again again:
1 Corinthians 14:39 "Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues."
If spiritual revelations are a sign of immaturity, why then would apostle Paul put such emphasis upon it? It is not so, the gift is a very important one. As I will seek to show next.
Believers are shown their gifts, and put into service by prophecy.
It is written:
1 Timothy 4:14 "Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery."
We are also assigned, and given gifts "...by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery." This is done in our churches, when somone is put into service for The Lord. Usually prophets, speakers (teachers), and ministers are shown this way. Shown by prophecy and prayed for. We also pray for the kitchen help (gift of helps). Although I think that we should seek to find more gifts amongst our people, and encourage them to grow accordingly.
God considered prophecy so important that:
Revelations 22:19 "And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Even if this person believes, they will recieve the prescribed punishment if they, "...take away from the words of the book of this prophecy..." It seems to me that our Lord God puts up prophecy as being very important to him.
Finally, and most important, this:
The angel said to John in Revelations 19:10 "I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
This seems to be greatly overlooked by the evangelical churches in America. This thought also seems to be creeping into our churches. It is exteremely important that the power of the Holy Spirit be not limited, but tested as we are allowed. When we talk about the testimony of Christ, we should always remember that God tells us, "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
Plamini Liubov,
Micah
