What Is The Spirit Saying To The Churches? What Is The Spirit Of Prophecy Testifying Of Things Which Must Shortly Come To Pass?
A lot of people are concerned about the future, to know what the future holds for them, for their family & loved ones, their nation & the world at large.
This concern grows stronger on the turn of a new calendar year as people crave to know what the year will be like.
A good number of religious leaders and prognosticators cash in on this, to give a forecast of things/events that will unfold in the year.
Some religious leaders merely adopt nice & appealing themes for the year, declaring that it's the word they received from God for the year. Others go further to dish out what they term "prophecies for the year".
This has been the trend for the past 20-25 years; quintessential a 21st century church trend, and younger ones go into ministry following the same trend to ride on it to fame & prominence in ministry.
Against the backdrop of this trend, there's need for us to re-evaluate what christianity really is.
This has been the trend for the past 20-25 years; quintessential a 21st century church trend, and younger ones go into ministry following the same trend to ride on it to fame & prominence in ministry.
Against the backdrop of this trend, there's need for us to re-evaluate what christianity really is.
True christianity is conformity to the image of Christ in bearing a living testimony & witness of the risen & glorified Christ at the righthand of God; it has nothing to do with religious/worldly trends & the quest to ride on them to fame/prominence.
The restless spirit of adapting to or following trends is not the true spirit/character of christianity.
It's very important for us to know that as children of God, we have the Spirit of God in us & with us, and there's absolutely nothing about the future, that he doesn't know.
Not only are we with the one who knows the future(all that's yet to be), he is also committed to showing us the future(things to come)👇🏼
"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." John 16:13.
Now this is the character of the book of Revelation...a showing/revelation of things to come.👇🏼
"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to shew to his bondmen things which must shortly come to pass"(Revelation 1:1).
Little wonder why in all the addresses to the churches, the seal/signature of the HolySpirit, as the one directly speaking/transmitting the revelation, is there...."He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches".
This is no doubt the full reality of the Lord Jesus relating with his church and speaking to his servants through the HolySpirit sent down from heaven; and what we see in Acts 1:2, just before the advent of the HolySpirit, was a foretaste of it.
The big question is: Have we heard what the Spirit is saying to the churches in the book of Revelation, even the HolySpirit sent down from heaven, testifying of things which must shortly come to pass, showing things to come in the book of prophecy/revelation?
According to Revelation 22:7-10, 16 & 19:10, the entire book is a book of prophecy and the revelation/testimony of Jesus, which is the spirit of prophecy, testifying these things in the churches but how many through the centuries of the church, have had ears to hear what the Spirit is saying in them?
Scripture clearly declares that "blessed is he that reads, and they that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things written in it; for the time is near"(Revelation 1:3); but how many seek this blessing in the church today? How many even know that there is such a blessedness in reading & giving heed to keep the things written therein to heart?
Are there not many who don't even care to know what is written therein yet they are busy doing ministry, giving so called 'yearly prophecies' while they know nothing about what the Spirit is saying to the churches in the book of prophecy(book of Revelation); a prophecy which touches the future and destiny of all things from time into all eternity?
Are there not many who don't care to know what the Spirit of God is showing/saying to his servants in the book of prophecy(book of Revelation), yet they profess to be servants of God?
Q: Are We Truly Servants/Bondmen Of The Lord?
The character of the book is clearly spelt out/defined from the beginning, it is: "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to shew to his BONDMEN, things which must shortly come to pass"(Revelation 1:1).
Sadly today many are just servants of men yet in the name of serving the Lord.
In the name of christian ministry/work, many have been wrongly discipled & espoused to follow & do the will/bidding of men; men who are not even following the Lord, but their own vision/ambition in ministry.
Galatians 1:10 clearly shows that if we seek to do the will of man/please man, we cannot be the bondmen of Christ.
1st Corinthians 7:23 says "Ye have been bought with a price; do not be the bondmen of men".
If we are not truly in character, the bondmen/servants of Christ, we surely cannot receive the things written in the book of Revelation; we cannot have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying, nor eyes to see what he is showing of things which must shortly come to pass.
What Is The Spirit Of Prophecy?
It is the testimony of Jesus, and not the testimony of men or anyother.
It is such that only those who are completely out of the way & speak not of themselves can bear the testimony; only vessels thoroughly crushed & emptied of Self, can bear the testimony without corrupting/polluting it.
1st Peter 1:11-12 shows us how it was the Spirit of Christ that spoke in the prophets of old, and they were men whose Self were out of the way such that it was even revealed unto them that the things they prophesied were not unto themselves but unto a people/generation yet to come.
In his second epistle, Peter goes on to show us the character of the prophecy of scripture 👇🏼
"knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of it's own interpretation, for prophecy was not ever, at any time, uttered by the will of man, but holy men of God spake under the power of the Holy Spirit."(2nd Peter 1:20-21).
There is no genuine prophetic expression in scripture which was initiated by the will of man, rather holy men of God spoke as moved/strictly influenced by the HolySpirit. In other words they spake not of themselves.
Little wonder why in all the addresses to the churches, the seal/signature of the HolySpirit, as the one directly speaking/transmitting the revelation, is there...."He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches".
This is no doubt the full reality of the Lord Jesus relating with his church and speaking to his servants through the HolySpirit sent down from heaven; and what we see in Acts 1:2, just before the advent of the HolySpirit, was a foretaste of it.
The big question is: Have we heard what the Spirit is saying to the churches in the book of Revelation, even the HolySpirit sent down from heaven, testifying of things which must shortly come to pass, showing things to come in the book of prophecy/revelation?
According to Revelation 22:7-10, 16 & 19:10, the entire book is a book of prophecy and the revelation/testimony of Jesus, which is the spirit of prophecy, testifying these things in the churches but how many through the centuries of the church, have had ears to hear what the Spirit is saying in them?
Scripture clearly declares that "blessed is he that reads, and they that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things written in it; for the time is near"(Revelation 1:3); but how many seek this blessing in the church today? How many even know that there is such a blessedness in reading & giving heed to keep the things written therein to heart?
Are there not many who don't even care to know what is written therein yet they are busy doing ministry, giving so called 'yearly prophecies' while they know nothing about what the Spirit is saying to the churches in the book of prophecy(book of Revelation); a prophecy which touches the future and destiny of all things from time into all eternity?
Are there not many who don't care to know what the Spirit of God is showing/saying to his servants in the book of prophecy(book of Revelation), yet they profess to be servants of God?
Q: Are We Truly Servants/Bondmen Of The Lord?
The character of the book is clearly spelt out/defined from the beginning, it is: "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to shew to his BONDMEN, things which must shortly come to pass"(Revelation 1:1).
Sadly today many are just servants of men yet in the name of serving the Lord.
In the name of christian ministry/work, many have been wrongly discipled & espoused to follow & do the will/bidding of men; men who are not even following the Lord, but their own vision/ambition in ministry.
Galatians 1:10 clearly shows that if we seek to do the will of man/please man, we cannot be the bondmen of Christ.
1st Corinthians 7:23 says "Ye have been bought with a price; do not be the bondmen of men".
If we are not truly in character, the bondmen/servants of Christ, we surely cannot receive the things written in the book of Revelation; we cannot have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying, nor eyes to see what he is showing of things which must shortly come to pass.
What Is The Spirit Of Prophecy?
It is the testimony of Jesus, and not the testimony of men or anyother.
It is such that only those who are completely out of the way & speak not of themselves can bear the testimony; only vessels thoroughly crushed & emptied of Self, can bear the testimony without corrupting/polluting it.
1st Peter 1:11-12 shows us how it was the Spirit of Christ that spoke in the prophets of old, and they were men whose Self were out of the way such that it was even revealed unto them that the things they prophesied were not unto themselves but unto a people/generation yet to come.
In his second epistle, Peter goes on to show us the character of the prophecy of scripture 👇🏼
"knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of it's own interpretation, for prophecy was not ever, at any time, uttered by the will of man, but holy men of God spake under the power of the Holy Spirit."(2nd Peter 1:20-21).
There is no genuine prophetic expression in scripture which was initiated by the will of man, rather holy men of God spoke as moved/strictly influenced by the HolySpirit. In other words they spake not of themselves.
The HolySpirit himself who moved/influenced them, is he whom the Lord Jesus said does not speak of or from himself but that which he receives of Jesus, is the same he transmits(John 16:13)...this is the spirit of prophecy; it is completely, wholly and absolutely the testimony of Jesus in which there is nothing of man or self to corrupt/pollute it.
Today men prophesy of their own will, moved by mere emotions, feelings or even pride to exhibit 'spiritual maturity' or superiority & relevance.
They flagrantly & carelessly abuse the word prophecy & prophesy.
In expressing their own mind & will they say "I prophesy to you", saying mundane things to men, which have absolutely nothing to do with the testimony of Jesus. These things they yet do in the name of Jesus, thus constituting themselves false prophets; who appear to be speaking the mind of God when what they're actually expressing is nothing but their own will & mind.
May God deliver us from all such by giving us ears & hearts that are open to hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches; may he make us, in character & in deed, true bondmen/servants of Christ to bear the testimony of the Lord Jesus without polluting it.
Today men prophesy of their own will, moved by mere emotions, feelings or even pride to exhibit 'spiritual maturity' or superiority & relevance.
They flagrantly & carelessly abuse the word prophecy & prophesy.
In expressing their own mind & will they say "I prophesy to you", saying mundane things to men, which have absolutely nothing to do with the testimony of Jesus. These things they yet do in the name of Jesus, thus constituting themselves false prophets; who appear to be speaking the mind of God when what they're actually expressing is nothing but their own will & mind.
May God deliver us from all such by giving us ears & hearts that are open to hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches; may he make us, in character & in deed, true bondmen/servants of Christ to bear the testimony of the Lord Jesus without polluting it.
Welcome To A New Calendar Year!
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