Prophetic Potential | Koinonia Church | Pastor Andrew Cromwell

Prophetic Potential

Joel 2:28-29 ESV: 28 “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.

29 Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.

1 Corinthians 14:3, 29-31 ESV: 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.

29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. 30 If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged…

Acts 19:6 ESV: And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.

Acts 21:11 ESV: And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”

Acts 13:2 ESV: While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Prophecy Defined: a message from made through a for the purpose of edification, encouragement, comfort, conviction or guidance.

Four Types of Prophecy

1. The Prophecy of Scripture
   2 Peter 1:20-21 ESV: 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
   The prophecy of scripture speaks of the declaratory and revelatory elements of the word of God as the highest revelation of God to man. All prophetic utterances must be judged by the prophecy of scripture.
2. The Spirit of Prophecy

   Revelation 19:10 ESV: For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

3. The Gift of Prophecy

   I Corinthians 12:10 ESV: to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

4. The Office of the Prophet

Ephesians 4:11-12 ESV: 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

The Limitations of the Prophetic Ministry

1. Prophecy must be judged

I Corinthians 13:9 AMP: For our knowledge is fragmentary, incomplete and imperfect, and our prophecy is fragmentary, incomplete and imperfect.

I Corinthians 13:12 MSG: We don’t see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist, but it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright.

2. Prophecy must be proven

I Thessalonians 5:20-21 MSG: Don’t suppress the Spirit and don’t stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don’t be gullible. Check out everything and keep only what is good. Throw out anything tainted with evil.

How to Reap the Benefits of the Prophetic

1. Common Errors Toward Personal Prophecy

• The error of taking no responsibility
• The error of total dependence upon personal prophecy
• The error of unrealistic fulfillment
• The error of harmful comparisons

2. Biblical Responsibility Toward Personal Prophecy

• Responsibility to receive the word with meekness and humility
• Responsibility to receive the word with respect and expectation
  
• Responsibility to receive the word with faith and patience
• Responsibility to receive the word with a warrior’s spirit