Prophesying In The Holy Spirit

Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days and they will prophesy. Acts 2: 18

Yesterday, we heard and saw that the Holy Spirit can and will enable whomsoever He wishes, to show His manifested works in them. The more I hear and read this account of the working of the Spirit, the more I am made to examine any Spirit works in me and others. The Spirit Himself leads you in this truth that not everyone who is prophesying has the Holy Spirit abiding in him or her. It has always brought me to my senses and it still does, every time I am reminded that even the enemies of God can be enabled to do what the Lord desires of them.

May God have mercy upon us and keep us from self-folly.

To prophesy is to Preach, to Proclaim, to Publicize. God has said that His Spirit-enabled servants will prophesy. This is what is said in 1 Corinthians 14: 1 – 4. Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.

We are now shown a small group of disciples, about a dozen in all, whom Paul found when he arrived in Ephesus. The first thing Paul asked them, was this most pointed question. Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? Acts 19: 2a. Having answered that they had not even heard of the Holy Spirit, Paul took time to have a teaching and receiving moment with them.

The teaching moment explains this theological difference to them. In Christianity there are two baptisms – John’s and Jesus’ – and to have the former without the latter means that you are not a true witness of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It also means, sad to say, that you are unable to prophesy – preach, proclaim and publicize – in the Spirit whom God has poured out on His servants.

The receiving moment gives life and fulfilment to promise. When they heard about Jesus’ baptism they believed and immediately, they were baptized into the Name of the Lord Jesus. Then and there, we are told that they received the Gift of the Holy Ghost. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. Acts 19: 6. They never left Paul’s presence as they came. When these disciples met Paul, they were water baptized believers, not Spirit baptized believers.

O what a receiving! When they left Paul’s presence, they were a Holy Ghost baptized group of believers, evidencing convincing proofs of the Holy Spirit’s Presence, poured out in them. They were speaking in tongues and prophesying.

Tomorrow, we press on in this same vein.