Your Sons & Daughters Shall Prophesy - Prophetic Gifts Today In The New Testament Church

Christ's Continuing Voice in the Church

The text is not clear how the Holy Spirit made His directives known to Paul and his associates.It could refer to personal, inner revelation of the Spirit or it could indicate prophecy.Either way it was revelation.

New Christians at Ephesus (19:6)

"When Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying." Prophesying here is seen as a spontaneous activity that coincides with being filled with the Spirit for the first time. This situation is similar to Acts 8:15-17 in which the Spirit was bestowed after baptism and the imposition of the apostles' hands. Once again (as in 2:4; 10:44-46 ) the coming of the Spirit was accompanied by unlearned languages and prophecy in the known language.(Compare with the magnifying of God in 2:11; 10:46.) This should not be an unusual occurrence for a church. Our church, like many others, has made it standard procedure to pray over baptismal candidates.Numerous people come out of the water speaking in tongues or do so standing in the water after being baptized-a jubilee time! Prophecy has also occurred. '"...Bound in spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen . . . except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me."' As Paul traveled toward Jerusalem, visiting various churches and groups of Christians, a consistent prophetic warning was sounded (for example, the disciples at Tyre in 21:4and Agabus in 21:11).The prophecies fore told the difficulties and dangers that awaited him. Paul's fellow Chris tians immediately concluded that he should not enter Jerusalem.But he accepted these warnings as legitimate and informative, unwavering in his decision that his going was definitely in the will of God. Paul's situation gives us a glimpse of the prophetic activity that was normal and pervasive among the churches of the time. A Pervasive Activity in the Churches (20:22-23)

Disciples at Tyre (21:4)

"...Theykept telling Paul through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem." This does not mean the Spirit was saying through the prophecies not to go to Jerusalem while at the same time urging Paul to go.The mean- ■ 204