 What does the phrase do not despise prophecy really mean? Hey, welcome back smart Christians. A lot of times you hear especially from those in the charismatic circles those who believe in the gift of Prophecy the way we see today, they'll tell you or tell us not to despise prophecy But what does that really mean and are they using incorrectly? Are they using it to force us to believe in some set of vague prophecies that have not come true? They've missed their deadlines. They're not specific Is that what it is to get us to believe that or is there something else that the Bible or that? Paul wants us to know from this passage. Let's go to first That's alone separate five and let's see what's happening. Remember Paul has just given a Statement as to what's gonna happen in the end time in the last days about his return now So let's believe that was he speaking of this rapture others may not that's fine That's not necessarily for this important for this particular Conversation, but when we go there Paul is giving kind of like his final words almost like a benediction And he's gonna come back in second that's along is and say that no you haven't missed Him coming back, but without that being stated. Let's go ahead and look at what he's saying in verse That's a learning separate five verse 20 as a matter of fact before we go there Let's start in verse 12 He says we ask you brothers to respect those who labor among you and who are over you in the Lord and it Admonish you mean those the overseas and so forth and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work Be at peace among yourselves. He says and we urge you brothers Admonish the idol incurs the faint hearted help the weak be patient with all of them See that no one repays anyone evil for evil But always seek to do good to one another and to everyone rejoice always pray without Ceasing give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus So as you see he's kind of running down a little laundry list guys as I'm leaving or at this time Make sure that you know all these things make sure that we remind everyone to do these things Then it goes to verse 18, and I'm sorry 19. He says do not quench the spirit Do not hear it is despise Prophecies but test everything hold fast what is good of staying from every form of evil So what is his point when it says do not despise prophecy? Well, first of all remember when we speak of prophecy He it does not always mean Fortelling or future prophecy it could there's two types of prophecies There is the foretelling what's gonna happen in the future There's a fourth telling what is now a statement of fact the indicative as a matter of fact most of the Prophecy most of the prophets the words from God given to them is not something that's going to happen in the future But are right now and indicative what's happening at this moment? And then we see even the apostles and the disciples when they make these statements oftentimes They may just be simply quoting from the scriptures in other words. What does say at the Lord? Prophecy all it really is is a revelation from God getting or giving information from God It could be something about the future it could be something about right now or even something to happen in the past Remember at this time the churches are missing something they have the Holy Spirit They have the ability to be saved by placing their faith in Christ But the one thing that they're missing that we have today is they all don't have the word of God And so there needed to be people that would come and give them the word to tell them a revelation of God Sometimes it would be foretelling sometimes It's just right now. And so Paul's point is just do not despise this revelation of God Notice what he says after that. He says do not despise prophecy, but he says but Test everything. How do we test everything as a matter of fact? That's kind of harkens to what John says he says that not every spirit is of God But to test and see if it is of God and so how do we do so? Well, we take it if someone even if it's a foretelling prophecy if it's about the future Or if it's something about right now the words is this we test it How so like the Bereans did when Paul went to Berea? They heard what he said and you know what they did they tested it They went back and they looked and searched the scriptures to see if it were true We are to do the exact same thing. We test any prophecy whether it's future telly because guess what? Could someone possibly give a prophecy? I don't know if they do we test it If they if it and if it does not come to pass if it's not accurate if it's vague Well, then we hold them accountable the same thing we would do if someone is handling the scriptures the word of God if someone opens The word of God and gives us something that does not sound right We go back and say hey, that's not so we test it We make sure we're not going to despise a revelation of the word of God as a matter of fact The very Bible that we have is the ultimate revelation of God the Bible is the ultimate prophecy So we're not going to despise it if it's right now or if it's a future I am skeptical when someone says they have a prophetic word and they tend to mean something for the future I'm skeptical But let's see as Paul says that you've been given this this gift of this bio according to a measure of faith That's been given you and so if it's prophecy well then prophesy according to that and so fine If you think that you have this particular gift well then guess what we're gonna do We are going to hold you accountable We may even look forward to it, but if it doesn't come to pass then guess what we know you are not a prophet You are now a false prophet the same thing holds true for someone who gives a word And so if someone gives us a word that is from the Bible and we look and see that's not true That person's also if they're saying that God gave them some sort of revelation from this We won't despise it We'll do what the Marines did go back and look and see and then we'll still hold you accountable as a matter of fact We're gonna test what you say whether it's right or wrong And if you say it right if you are a true Person of God that gives a true revelation being a pastor being an elder Be it some who calls himself a prophet or apostle what have you we're gonna hold you to the same standard The word of God is here. There is no way that we dim this there is no way that we impugn it There is no way that we can say it's sometimes true sometimes That's not and then be looked upon favorably no we are we have been entrusted with the word of God to handle it Rightly and to present it rightly this despising prophecy none of us should do so we should hold dear to the true authentic revelation of God Amen