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

21

WHO JUDGES THE PROPHECIES?

Do not stifle inspiration, and do not despise prophetic utterances, but bring them all to the test and then keep what is good in them and avoid the bad of whatever kind. 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 (NEB)

STRIDING DOWN ONE of the aisles of our church sanctuary came a youngish, bearded man right out of the pages of the Old Testa ment. Dressed in a flowing white garment and sandals, the visitor announced in stentorian tones that he was the prophet Elijah. We drew our collective breath and every head snapped around to view the out landish newcomer. It happened during a Sunday morning service some 38 years ago when my wife and I first began our church in San Jose, California. Sitting on the platform facing the people, I knew on the spot that an alien spirit had invaded our sanctuary. The ushers roused themselves, preparing nerv ously for action. I moved quickly to the pulpit to intercept the intruder. The determined, no-nonsense look on my face must have been appar ent, for "Elijah" jerked to a halt midway down the aisle, whirled around and stamped out of the church, shaking the dust from his garments and announcing that God was going to judge this place! His words never came to pass, of course. No one in our church thought they would. But the episode added a little excitement to the meeting! 330