Post by Zac Loh on Dec 10, 2008 3:47:30 GMT -5
THE SACRIFICE OF ISAAC
Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” (Genesis 22:1-2)
And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” (Genesis 22:12)
God promised that multitudes will come from Isaac, and here God was asking father Abraham to kill Isaac. What was God’s will? Well, God’s promise held true for Abraham. As far as Abraham is concern, he believed that God could raise Isaac from the dead (Hebrews 11:17-19).
God did not intend to raise Isaac from the dead. He stopped Abraham from killing Isaac. God didn’t change His mind. He just wanted to test Abraham.
From this true story, we realize that applying prophecy is not always straight forward. It can be quite delicate. At times, we have to be in prayer for a prolonged season to discern God’s will. We are not driven by fear of making a mistake; but a sense of prudence and a desire to obey God accurately. This is stewardship in practice.
If there is any error in prophecy, the fault can lie either with the vessel or with the recipient.
THE SACRIFICE OF PAUL
4 And finding disciples, we stayed there seven days. They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem. 5 When we had come to the end of those days, we departed and went on our way; and they all accompanied us, with wives and children, till we were out of the city. And we knelt down on the shore and prayed. 6 When we had taken our leave of one another, we boarded the ship, and they returned home.
7 And when we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, greeted the brethren, and stayed with them one day. 8 On the next day we who were Paul’s companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied. 10 And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”
12 Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
14 So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.”
15 And after those days we packed and went up to Jerusalem.
(Acts 21:4-15)
In verse 4, God instructed Paul not to go to up to Jerusalem. Does it mean never ever to go up to Jerusalem? We have to be clear in the fact that God did not say never ever to go up to Jerusalem.
In verses 10 to 11, God used Agabus to show that Paul would be persecuted in Jerusalem.
Agabus did not tell Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Agabus, a seasoned prophet he was, did not try to interpret the prophecy, but delivered it as it is. This is what we should do when we deliver prophecy. We should tell/show it as it is. We must be very careful not to interpret unless the Lord give us further understanding.
In verse 12, we read that others pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem because they felt deeply for Paul. None of them misinterpreted Agabus’ prophecy. But some of us could misinterpret it because God earlier in verse 4 told Paul not to go.
THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH JUDGING PROPHETIC UTTERANCES
• We are told not to despise prophecies. Yet, we are also advised to test them for its authenticity. We are advised to take only the part which is genuinely from God (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21).
• Our God Who gives prophecies is impeccable and infallible; but both the human vessel He uses and the human recipient, are not impeccable nor infallible.
• We will not be offending God if we judge prophecies because we are not judging people. We are not being judgmental, but prudent.
• We will not lose our blessing if we judge prophecies.
WHY DO WE JUDGE A PROPHETIC UTTERANCE?
• Because we are serious in applying it into our lives.
• Because we want to know whether it is genuinely from God.
• Because we need to know how much of it - is genuinely from God.
• Because we want to understand how to apply it into our lives.
THREE PRINCIPLES GOVERNING PROPHETIC UTERANCES
Confirm
The prophecy may either confirm what we already know, or God will surely confirm the prophecy to us later.
Clarify
Prophetic utterances clarify what God has already said/revealed to us. The prophecy will give further clarification to things such as God’s specific will, plan and purpose.
Connect
Prophetic utterances connect us to God. Ultimately, the prophecy is not meant to draw attention to itself, but to draw us to God. The prophecy should keep us in our connection to God, not draw us away.
The prophecy is not meant to glorify itself, but to glorify God. Otherwise, we will be in idolatry.
Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” (Genesis 22:1-2)
And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” (Genesis 22:12)
God promised that multitudes will come from Isaac, and here God was asking father Abraham to kill Isaac. What was God’s will? Well, God’s promise held true for Abraham. As far as Abraham is concern, he believed that God could raise Isaac from the dead (Hebrews 11:17-19).
God did not intend to raise Isaac from the dead. He stopped Abraham from killing Isaac. God didn’t change His mind. He just wanted to test Abraham.
From this true story, we realize that applying prophecy is not always straight forward. It can be quite delicate. At times, we have to be in prayer for a prolonged season to discern God’s will. We are not driven by fear of making a mistake; but a sense of prudence and a desire to obey God accurately. This is stewardship in practice.
If there is any error in prophecy, the fault can lie either with the vessel or with the recipient.
THE SACRIFICE OF PAUL
4 And finding disciples, we stayed there seven days. They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem. 5 When we had come to the end of those days, we departed and went on our way; and they all accompanied us, with wives and children, till we were out of the city. And we knelt down on the shore and prayed. 6 When we had taken our leave of one another, we boarded the ship, and they returned home.
7 And when we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, greeted the brethren, and stayed with them one day. 8 On the next day we who were Paul’s companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied. 10 And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”
12 Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
14 So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.”
15 And after those days we packed and went up to Jerusalem.
(Acts 21:4-15)
In verse 4, God instructed Paul not to go to up to Jerusalem. Does it mean never ever to go up to Jerusalem? We have to be clear in the fact that God did not say never ever to go up to Jerusalem.
In verses 10 to 11, God used Agabus to show that Paul would be persecuted in Jerusalem.
Agabus did not tell Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Agabus, a seasoned prophet he was, did not try to interpret the prophecy, but delivered it as it is. This is what we should do when we deliver prophecy. We should tell/show it as it is. We must be very careful not to interpret unless the Lord give us further understanding.
In verse 12, we read that others pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem because they felt deeply for Paul. None of them misinterpreted Agabus’ prophecy. But some of us could misinterpret it because God earlier in verse 4 told Paul not to go.
THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH JUDGING PROPHETIC UTTERANCES
• We are told not to despise prophecies. Yet, we are also advised to test them for its authenticity. We are advised to take only the part which is genuinely from God (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21).
• Our God Who gives prophecies is impeccable and infallible; but both the human vessel He uses and the human recipient, are not impeccable nor infallible.
• We will not be offending God if we judge prophecies because we are not judging people. We are not being judgmental, but prudent.
• We will not lose our blessing if we judge prophecies.
WHY DO WE JUDGE A PROPHETIC UTTERANCE?
• Because we are serious in applying it into our lives.
• Because we want to know whether it is genuinely from God.
• Because we need to know how much of it - is genuinely from God.
• Because we want to understand how to apply it into our lives.
THREE PRINCIPLES GOVERNING PROPHETIC UTERANCES
Confirm
The prophecy may either confirm what we already know, or God will surely confirm the prophecy to us later.
Clarify
Prophetic utterances clarify what God has already said/revealed to us. The prophecy will give further clarification to things such as God’s specific will, plan and purpose.
Connect
Prophetic utterances connect us to God. Ultimately, the prophecy is not meant to draw attention to itself, but to draw us to God. The prophecy should keep us in our connection to God, not draw us away.
The prophecy is not meant to glorify itself, but to glorify God. Otherwise, we will be in idolatry.