(Deuteronomy 18:9-14) “When you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11 or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. 12 For whoever does these things is detestable to the Lord; and because of these detestable things the Lord your God will drive them out before you. 13 You shall be blameless before the Lord your God. 14 For those nations, which you shall dispossess, listen to those who practice witchcraft and to diviners, but as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do so.
Here is a unique portion of scripture which I've never really taken note of before. The Israelites tended to "want to be like" other nations - BUT BECAUSE the people said they feared God, feared hearing His voice and seeing His great fire, and therefore feared that if they remained THAT close to God, they would probably die - they requested that God send them prophets to speak to them instead. God answered their request...
(Deuteronomy 18:15-19) “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him. 16 This is according to all that you asked of the Lord your God in Horeb on the day of the assembly, saying, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, let me not see this great fire anymore, or I will die.’ 17 The Lord said to me, ‘They have spoken well. 18 I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. 19 It shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him."
Because other nations would seek advice from mediums and such (who practiced predicting the future, etc. in order to make a living); and because Israel constantly struggled with a desire to do as other nations; God gave the people a warning around prophecy...
(Deuteronomy 18:20-22) “But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’ 21 You may say in your heart, ‘How will we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?’ 22 When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him."
We see yet another reminder about remaining obedient and focused on the Lord. The angels and demons have been alerted! When there is obedience, God looks after those who honor Him. When there is disobedience, the people open that door to demonic attacks and spiritual warfare...
(Deuteronomy 30:15-20) “See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity; 16 in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the Lord your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it. 17 But if your heart turns away and you will not obey, but are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today that you shall surely perish. You will not prolong your days in the land where you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess it. 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, 20 by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”
The above sounds so dire and grave, but Moses goes on to encourage the people - WHEN SOMEONE IS ON GOD'S SIDE - WHEN THEY OBEY THE LORD - - -
(Deuteronomy 31:3-6) “It is the Lord your God who will cross ahead of you; He will destroy these nations before you, and you shall dispossess them. Joshua is the one who will cross ahead of you, just as the Lord has spoken. 4 The Lord will do to them just as He did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land, when He destroyed them. 5 The Lord will deliver them up before you, and you shall do to them according to all the commandments which I have commanded you. 6 Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”
From this we see:
- we are to avoid cults and other religions
- we should not practice or seek out one who practices divination, witchcraft, omen interpretations, sorcery, casting spells, mediums, spiritists, speaking to the dead, predicting the future...
- all prophecy should be founded on God's Truth and should not contradict anything in the Bible
- worship only God
- trust that God is all-powerful and able to guide and protect us
Personal experience: a few years ago, in the church we attended before moving to our current location, a man and wife slipped into the worship service just after it began, so no one was able to welcome them until later.
Not to judge, because we welcome everyone (as they are) into the church - as we ALL need Jesus! But they WERE dressed a little oddly. It was summer, and they were all in black and completely covered up. Because of this, one could easily assume that maybe they were from a church with a legalistic background - from a church who had not yet discovered that we can live in the freedom of God's grace. That is - it's not about what we wear, etc., but how we love unconditionally which will set us apart from the world. Nonetheless, the people from our congregation offered them their warmest greetings.
Almost immediately, the man began to proclaim that he had been set apart, and as a prophet, was sent by God to our church in order to judge us. We were - according to this man - completely spiritually empty because (for example) during our service when we prayed, we all stood up, while we should have all been kneeling. etc. etc. etc.
From just observing us for one hour, the man began to spout off a long list of sins. Our pastor then quickly and lovingly stepped in to manage the situation. The man and his wife were more than welcome to attend our church, unless they had intentions of causing disruptions and divisions. They never returned.
Today's takeaway: there is still the gift of prophecy, but when someone gives a prophetic word, we must ask a few questions:
- does the message align with God's will and what the Bible says?
- does the message edify? (build up)
- does the message exhort? (challenge and/or encourage)
- does the message console? (comfort in times of grief or disappointment)
- is the message delivered with God's love?
Basically, prophecy is speaking God's Truth and love - that which is applicable for the moment...
(1 Corinthians 14:1-40) Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation. 4 One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church. 5 Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.
6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation or of knowledge or of prophecy or of teaching? 7 Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp? 8 For if the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? 9 So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning. 11 If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian to me. 12 So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church.
13 Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also. 16 Otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not edified. 18 I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; 19 however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20 Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature. 21 In the Law it is written, “By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to Me,” says the Lord. 22 So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe. 23 Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.
26 What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret; 28 but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment. 30 But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted; 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; 33 for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
34 The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. 35 If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church. 36 Was it from you that the word of God first went forth? Or has it come to you only?
37 If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment. 38 But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.
39 Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues. 40 But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.
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