5 Smooth Stones

where the judging or discerning of a prophetic word can be mishandled is by how it is judged and by whom. Paul wrote that a prophetic word should be judged by other prophets.

1 Corinthians 14:29 “Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others

judge.”

We have already seen the word translated “other” in this verse is from the Greek word allos meaning of the same kind. When the prophetic word is judged by those with limited or no prophetic intuition often it is rejected out of fear, misunderstanding, and ignorance, even though it is a true word from God. When the apostle judges a word, it may go beyond simply the source of the word and the accuracy of the word and on to application of the word. This may simply call for a response from the people to the message given or it may mean actual mobilization in order to accomplish the word. (See Appendix C) When it came to new doctrines, or new applications of doctrines, it was the apostles that the Lord sent to break the new ground. Even then, the new actions were brought before the council, or gathering of the apostles and elders, to consider and judge the accuracy and application of such new doctrines or understanding of what the Lord had instituted through the apostle. One account where this is seen is the record for Peter and Cornelius the centurion in Acts chapter 10. Cornelius feared God (Jehovah) and prayed to him and gave generously to the needy. In these days gentiles who connected themselves to Jewish synagogues were called “God Fearers.” Cornelius had a visitation with an angel who told him to send for Peter who was in Joppa and hiding from authorities at the time. Shortly before the messengers from Cornelius showed up at Simon’s home where Peter was staying, Peter had a vision which culminated in the message from the Lord, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” Then, “While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, ‘Behold, three men are seeking you. Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.’” What transpired the following day in Caesarea was remarkable. For the fi rst time gentiles received the Holy Spirit and the new birth. Jesus had told the disciples that He had other sheep besides the children of Israel and had also told them, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Sa maria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8). Yet to this moment in time they had limited the preaching of the gospel primarily to areas where the Tora 95