1 Thessalonians 5:20
20 Despise [exoutheneo] not [me] prophesyings. [propheteia] KJV-Interlinear
20 do not despise prophetic
utterances. NASB
The word for
prophesying, propheteia, certainly refers to one
who speaks of future things to some extent, but it also refers primarily to an
inspired speaker, or one who speaks of truths.
And truth here refers to Bible doctrine, or the general content of the
scriptures.
Our dispensation, the Church
Age, does not have any prophecies within it, except the final event of our era
which is the Rapture.In Corinthians, Paul
states that everyone should prophesy, and therefore this refers to thinking in doctrine,
not making predictions.
In Pauls day, there were also certain men who were given
very specialized gifts.Some were referred
to as speaking in tongues, which means languages not babbling, or the gift of
healing, and similar gifts.
Those gifts were very
specialized and they were, more important, very temporary and only specific to
that initial generation of Christians.
Those gifts do not exist today.
When we get to Corinthians,
we will study the principle of the temporary gifts.
1 Cor. 14:1
Follow after charity,
and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. NASB
1 Cor. 14:19
19 however, in the
church I desire to speak five words with my mind, that I may instruct others
also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue. NASB
In these two verses, Paul
states that it is far better for you to be able to speak doctrine, that ye may
prophesy, than to speak ten-thousand (endless) words within the framework of a
phony act, tongue.
Back in Pauls day, there were those who
had gifts.Naturally it would be for
some to envy or to desire those same gifts.
However, God gave those gifts for the purpose of establishing
credentials of the ministry of the Apostles and others, and not for their own
personal gain or approbation.
Even today, you will see
examples of tent evangelists, or television evangelists, or even some
denominations that promote the idea of these special gifts. They go as far as incorporating them within their
program in order to gain followers, to entertain, or to make money. Fundamental teaching of Bible doctrine takes
a backseat, if it is even included at all.
But up-beat music shows
and spectacular tricks and deceit, do not establish ones spiritual life or
spiritual growth.Only doctrine in the soul, establishes and completes ones
life.
Therefore, do not
despise doctrine by either ignoring it, scoffing at it,
or attempting to duplicate or re-invent it through some gimmick.
There is but one way to
grow up in life, and that way is to learn doctrine, to understand it, to use it
within your daily life, and to repeat this learning cycle (the cycle of
wisdom), throughout your life.Gimmicks
and magic formulas for elevating your life, may tweak the emotions at best, but
they are false concepts.
There are no shortcuts
to growing up.Just as a person has to
learn to crawl, to walk, to speak, to read and write, to learn social skills
and to learn responsibility in life, during the course of many, many years, so
too, spiritual growth does not come to you during a summer camp outing.
The spiritual life is a
life-long commitment and never ends.It
is not for Sunday s or holidays only, or for when you happen to be in the
mood.It does not stop when you go away
to school, when you retire, when you are sick, or when you go on vacation. Your spiritual life should be your number one
priority for every day of your life.
No exceptions.
God has a plan for your
life.In Gods
plan, phenomenal things await you, both for this life and the next. But that plan in which God gives you much,
God expects much from you.That much,
is your commitment to your spiritual life.
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