Prayer Ministry Sunday
Earnestly Desire Prophecy
1 Corinthians 14
For the past few weeks we have been having a rich time in the book of Hebrews; and Lord willing we’ll be back in Hebrews next week. But this morning we are going to do something different. This morning we are going to have a Prayer Ministry Sunday. Here’s what that means. After we’ve studied God’s Word, we will break into smaller groups and pray for those who have needs, asking God to work in powerful ways.
Now if you are just visiting, don’t panic. You won’t have to pray. You can just sit back and enjoy.
So why do we do this once or twice each year? Here’s a couple reasons --
One is because it reminds us that church is like a physical body in which every part has a crucial role. It’s not all about the worship leader and preacher. The Bible says that we all are called to minister to each other. And Prayer Ministry Sunday reminds us of that and helps us grow in that.
Another reason is because there are lots of needs in this room. Some of you need encouragement. Others need guidance. Others need stronger faith, or health, or peace, or power over temptation. There are lots of needs in this room, God loves to meet our needs, and He often does this as we pray for each other.
So that’s why we have prayer ministry Sundays. And as I was praying about this Sunday, I felt like God was saying that as we pray for each other He wants us to grow in the spiritual gift of prophecy. I believe God wants us to grow this morning in our understanding of prophecy, in our desire for prophecy, and in our experience of prophecy.
So let’s start by studying the gift of prophecy. Turn to 1 Corinthians 14. If you need a Bible, go ahead and raise your hand and we will bring one to you. 1 Corinthians 14 is on page 960 in the Bibles we are passing out.
Here’s some background. Becoming a Christian means owning up to the fact that there is a God, we have sinned against Him, and that therefore we face His righteous judgment, but that in great love and mercy and compassion He has made a way for us to be forgiven and restored into relationship with Him.
And the way we can be forgiven and restored is not by being good enough. It’s by trusting Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who lived a perfectly righteous life, and who paid for our sins on the Cross. And the moment we trust Jesus as our Savior, our Lord, and our heart-satisfying Treasure something wonderful happens.
God gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit comes to live inside of us. He strengthens our faith. He helps us feel Jesus’ glory. He satisfies our hearts with God’s presence.
And -- He gives us supernatural, spiritual gifts. And one of those gifts is prophecy, which Paul talks about here in 1 Corinthians 14. So what is prophecy? We can see what prophecy is by looking at vv.29-31 –
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,
Notice that in vv.29 and 31 he talks about prophets and prophecy, which shows that in v.30 he’s also talking about prophecy. But instead of using the word “prophecy,” he describes what happens when someone receives a prophecy.
What happens is that a revelation is made to someone, which means that God supernaturally brings it into their mind. It’s not something they thought up on their own – although God can also powerfully work in that way. But it’s something that God reveals to you.
So last Sunday I was praying for a young couple who were here visiting from Texas. And as I prayed I felt strongly that I should say to them that even though they did not understand the trials they had experienced – God had a plan for every one of them. And I felt that I should pray Proverbs 3:5-6 over them – “trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.”
Now that did not come from me thinking – what should I pray? Again – God works in that way as well. But prophecy is where God reveals something to us.
Now it’s also crucial to point out that when someone believes they have a prophecy from God, our responsibility is to do what Paul says in v.29 –
Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.
We are to weigh what is said, because people can be wrong, and because the Bible is never wrong. The Bible is our ultimate authority. So we weigh prophecies by seeing if they fit Scripture.
So that’s what prophecy is. But why is prophecy important? Paul tells us why in v.1 --
1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
Notice the first two words of v.1 – “Pursue love.” If we love each other, we will earnestly desire spiritual gifts, especially prophecy. When you receive a revelation from God and speak it to someone it will help them – and that’s loving.
How will it help them? Notice again what Paul says in v.3 --
3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.
So when you receive a prophecy – a revelation from God – and speak it to someone – it will build them, it will encourage them, it will console them.
Now there are other ways God can use us to build, encourage, and console each other. But one way is prophecy, which is why prophecy is so important.
So what does Paul call us to do regarding prophecy? You might think that because you’ve never experienced the gift of prophecy, that means God will never give you a gift of prophecy.
But notice what Paul says in v.1 –
1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
Think about that. Paul wants everyone in the church at Corinth to desire the gift of prophecy. Which means anyone might receive a prophecy at any time. Even if someone has never received a prophecy in the past – they might receive a prophecy now – and will be able to love and encourage someone.
So here’s what that would look like this morning.
In a moment we are going to stand and rearrange our chairs into circles. Then someone is going to share a need, and they will sit in the middle of the circle, and the rest of the group will lay hands on them and start to pray.
So go ahead and pray as seems fitting, as seems biblical, as seems helpful. But as you are doing that – earnestly desire the gift of prophecy, pray that God gives you a word of prophecy for that person.
And then see if God brings something into your mind to speak to them.
· It might be a Scripture
· It might be something to pray over them
· It might be vision
· It might be an exhortation
· It might be a word of how God loves them
And if God brings something into your mind – speak to them. You don’t need to say “thus saith the Lord.” In fact, please don’t. Just say something like – I think God might be saying this to you.
And then if you are on the receiving end – hearing the prophecy spoken over you – you are to weigh it. Weigh it to see if it’s biblical. Weigh it to see if it is for you.
But this all depends on us earnestly desiring prophecy, asking God for prophecy.
Questions?