Tehillah Generation Chapel
Daily Manna | Monday, March 12, 2018 | Reading: Exodus 33:1-11, Exodus 4, Gen 3:1-21
Topic: The Tabernacle of God 379
Scripture: But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say not of this building. (Heb 9:11)
Note: 2Cor 5:1, “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” Paul’s prayer and desire for the Thessalonian Church was that the God of peace would sanctify them wholly, and that their whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1Thess 5:23). Yet, in his laudable desire for them, he wasted no time in reminding them of the critical role of the Holy Spirit in the Church.
Paul’s 4-point caution and steps to take in avoiding a collision course with the Holy Spirit activities in the Church began in verse 19 in the need for them not to quench the Spirit. Paul’s second admonition to the Church followed with verse 20: “Despise not prophesyings.” To despise prophecy is to hold and treat prophesying as of no account. It’s to set it aside completely, ignoring it with all the contempt that it deserves. This position of treating one of the most iconic gifts of the Spirit with such utter contempt, was considered largely reckless and an affront to the third person of the Trinity.
Any believer whose first disposition towards a prophetic utterance is to scoff at it, might be acting out of ignorance, immaturity or as a result of a bad previous experience with a prophetic utterance. Apostle Paul had a solution to that kind of negative attitude towards the prophetic when he instructed that instead of outright rejection, this is what we must do: “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” 1Thess 5:21. All prophetic utterances were to be individually vetted through a discernible application of the word of God, without exception to the person through which the utterance came.
In proving the authenticity of a prophetic utterance for validity, the test ought to pass through a rigorous crucible of the word of God. This will see every utterance being critically examined and scrutinized just like the goldsmiths and silversmiths do to precious metals. To pass out as genuine after this rigorous examination means that the prophetic utterance has been approved to be deemed worthy and precious as a revealed knowledge of God’s word. It has the stamp of authority and seal of the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13).
Food for thought: Attaining a balance between two extreme ends of gullible acceptance and outright rejection of prophetic utterances is a sign of maturity.
Declaration: In whom you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after you had believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. Eph 1:13
©Author: Rev Fred Aboe
