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DESPISE NOT PROPHESYINGS
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23
1 Thessalonians 5:20

Matthew 7:24-28

 

“Despise not prophesyings.”

 

DESPISE NOT PROPHESYINGS
 
Prophesyings are a means through which God makes known His will to man. When we encounter the term “prophesying,” we should not just think of the prophecies of the Bible that speak of future events, or the pseudo prophets of today who claim to have visions and dreams. The ministry of the prophet is really two-fold. One is “foretelling,” where he preaches on what God says concerning the future. Then there is the ministry of “forthtelling,” where he is but a faithful conveyer of God’s instructions or commands for the present. Today, we have the perfect Word of God in our hands and no longer require the ministry of “foretelling.” God has already told us all we need to know concerning the future. Therefore, prophesyings in the present refer to the faithful teaching of God’s Word (the product of the prophets of old).
 
We despise prophesyings when we dismiss the importance of God’s revelation to us. When we disregard the instructions from God, neglect to read and are not concerned to obey God’s Word, we show our contempt for God’s prophesyings. In like manner, we sometimes fail to respect the faithful preaching of the Word of God but arrogantly claim to have no need for it. We have this tendency to pick and choose to hear what is tantalising to our ears, that would humour us and make us feel good. But these may not be healthy for our souls.
 
Instead, we ought to come with a humble and receptive heart to listen to what God has to say to us. If the preacher is a faithful man of God, and he prepares his sermons faithfully according to the Bible text, he is indeed God’s messenger. His preaching ought to be received as it were the voice of God speaking to us. Instead of despising, we must love God’s Word. We must actively seek and respect prophesying. More than just on Sundays, we must also seek other opportunities where we can listen to God’s Word being preached, such as at Bible studies, prayer meetings or even Bible college lectures. Let us all be as newborn babes who desire the sincere milk of the Word, that we may grow thereby (1 Pet 2:2).
 
THOUGHT: When I despise prophesyings, I despise the God who gave them to me.

PRAYER: Father, teach me to love Thy truth and apply it in my life!

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