What's the Importance of the Spirit of Prophecy 1
When the Spirit Comes? The Universal Dairy -Isaiah 7:21-22
God’s Communicates with His True Church
Prayer Thought:
Thus are revealed the snares and devices of Satan, the importance of perfecting Christian character, and the means by which this result may be obtained. Thus God indicates what is necessary to secure His blessing. There is a disposition on the part of many to let rebellious feelings arise if their peculiar sins are reproved. The spirit of this generation is: "Speak unto us smooth things." But the spirit of prophecy speaks only the truth. Iniquity abounds, and the love of many who profess to follow Christ waxes cold. They are blind to the wickedness of their own hearts and do not feel their weak and helpless condition. God in mercy lifts the veil and shows them that there is an eye behind the scenes that discerns their hidden guilt and the motives of their actions. {4T 13.1}
Purpose of study
To reveal the importance of the Spirit of Prophecy.
Introduction
Isa. 8:20 – “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, [it is] because [there is] no light in them.”
John 16:13 - 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.
Warning! False Prophets in the Last Days
“Again: we are forewarned that there would be false prophets in the last days, and the bible gives a test by which to try their teachings in order that we may distinguish between the true and the false. The grand test is the Law of God, which is applied both to the prophesyings and to the moral character of the prophets. If there were to be no true prophesyings in the last days, how much easier to have stated the fact, and thus cut off all chance for deception, than to give a test by which to try them, as if there would be the genuine as well as the false.
In isaiah 8:19, 20, is a prophecy of the familiar spirits of the present time, and the law is given as a test: "to the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Why say, "if they speak not," if there was to be no true spiritual manifestation or prophesying at the same time?....... {Early Writings 138}
Continuation...
“False prophets are to be known by their fruits; in other words, by their moral character. The only standard by which to determine whether their fruits are good or bad, is the Law of God. Thus we are brought to the law and to the testimony. True prophets will not only speak according to this word, but they will live according to it.
One who speaks and lives thus, i dare not condemn…. It has always been a characteristic of false prophets that they see visions of peace; and they will be saying, "peace and safety," when sudden destruction comes upon them. The true will boldly reprove sin and warn of coming wrath. Prophesyings which contradict the plain and positive declarations of the word, are to be rejected.”
1. A CHURCH WITH THE GIFT OF PROPHECY IN IT
Rev. 10:10 – 11 “And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.”
The little book is the Book of Daniel, with the 2300 year “sweet” promise of the Sanctuary to be cleansed at the end of those 2300 years - 1844. But became a “bitter” Disappointment when Jesus did not come in 1844. Rev. 10:11 shows the re-commissioning the same group (now few) to “prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.” This group of Millerites became the Seventh-day Adventist Church, having the gift of prophecy (Spirit of Prophecy –the writings of E. G. White) among them.
2. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY
a. The Universal Dairy
Isa. 7:21-22 – “And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] a man shall nourish a young cow, and two sheep; And it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk [that] they shall give he shall eat butter: for butter and honey shall every one eat that is left in the land.”
1. Isaiah 7:14,15
Immanuel is Christ.
He is given a special diet as John the Baptist (Luke 1:15 & Matthew 3:4) was, but history showed that Christ did not just eat MILK and Honey during His earthly Days for him to be able to choose good and shun evil. (Matthew 11:18)
What makes him wise?
Matthew 4:1-4, 6, 7, 10. It is the word of God that made him wise enough to choose good and shun evil.
What Honey and Butter symbolize?
Honey and Butter are used as symbols of Doctrine or Truth.
Revelation 10:8-11 gives us the meaning of Honey and the experience of the disappointment in the early years of Adventism.
The message of the Sanctuary was SWEET AS HONEY BUT BITTER IN THEIR BELLY.
“The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.” Ps. 19:9, 10.
Milk is for Baby
For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Heb. 5:13, 14
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 1Pet. 2:2
Here Paul and Peter gives us the Answer.
Two Sheep and the Young Cow
Close reasoners and logical thinkers are few for the reason that false influences have checked the development of the intellect. 3T 142.3
The above statement admonished us to be close reasoners and logical thinkers.
Since milk and butter is a churned milk are symbols of the doctrine, we can now conclude that the Two Sheep and Young Cow are the ones to produce the milk for us have butter (Strong meat or deep things of the Scriptures). And since we only have two sources of Doctrines, namely the Bible and SOP. Bible (Two Books bind together) can be applied to Two Sheep. And the Young Cow is the SOP. These two book are the main sources of Milk. But let us remember that it must be processed before we can obtain the Butter (Strong Meat or Deeper understanding of the Bible and SOP or Inspired Interpretations)
Scripture and Spirit of Prophecy Have Same Author.--The Holy Ghost is the author of the Scriptures and of the Spirit of Prophecy. These are not to be twisted and turned to mean what man may want them to mean, to carry out man's ideas and sentiments, to carry forward man's schemes at all hazards.--Letter 92, 1900. {3SM 30.3}
Ellen White Calls Her Writings a Lesser Light.--Little heed is given to the Bible, and the Lord has given a lesser light to lead men and women to the greater light.--The Review and Herald, Jan. 20, 1903. (Quoted in Colporteur Ministry, p. 125.) {3SM 30.4}
Conclusion
1. When man fell, and could not talk to God face to face, the Lord Jesus put in place a system of communication called the “Spirit of Prophecy.”
2. In this system God, in each age, selects Prophets and inspires them to write the Scriptures, then Messengers inspired to interpret the Scriptures to the Church. By this way, the Church is corrected, preserved, enlightened, and used to represent and reveal God to the world.
Glory to God!