Recognize Jesus

"God's plan was the salvation of the world."

PROPHECY is not just about the nation or nations, governments, pending national financial crises, or the threat of war. In fact, it’s not about those things at all. The apostle Paul wrote the Corinthian church and defined it as “edification, exhortation, and comfort (1 Corinthians 14:3).” He then explained it was meant to edify the church.

I wish we would stop with the war of words. Our need to lambast listeners with the negative possibilities of the future is decidedly human. God can and has given men glimpses of what will happen. This is throughout the Word. But must be seen under whatever its particular Covenant, as Old Testament prophecies are not like those under the New, Jesus makes the difference. He came to set things right again and fulfill God’s plan. God’s plan was the salvation of the world and, eventually, the recreation of the planet.

This should be our point-of-view of John’s Revelation. If prophecy is meant to edify the church, then why are we so willing to scare people half to death? To preach violence and war, when the ending is there, so plain? There will be “no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain (Revelation 21:3).”

Oh, that’s right … things must wax worse and worse first, then God flex His arm. That is what Israel expected Him to do that caused them to not recognize Jesus.

Whatever we believe and speak will affect our behavior and substantiate the problem. Long about sixth grade, I saw an end-times flick, late one dark night, at church. There was this girl who’d been left behind, because let’s preach that, and she had to choose whether to stand up for Jesus or be beheaded. I said, “No thanks. You guys can keep this,” and permanently walked away.

Some things do not need to be said. There, I said it. Some things do not need to be said in the pulpit. God is love, so don’t preach hate. God is peace, so don’t preach violence. God is rescue, so don’t preach loss. God destroyed the devil and his works, so preach victory. Preach healing. Preach health. Preach God’s faithfulness. Not “what ifs” and “what if nots.” Don’t preach speculation.

Don’t preach anything that did not come directly from God.

Paul did this when he gave his opinion on being single. Then to Ephesus, he changed it to a beautiful description of marriage as being just like Christ’s sacrifice for the church. Along that line—Preach maturity and love one another, not lust and sex jokes and the carnal mind. For it is enmity against God (Romans 8:7).

“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6)

Circling back around to prophecy, we must mix in the gifts or, better said, manifestations of the Holy Spirit, which are only outlined in order to prevent us from adding to them. Their purpose, in whatever situation He gives them to us, is for us to be united. For us to be united TO GOD’S SPIRIT. And I am telling you, we are not.

While we still speculate if women should be in the pulpit, women are in the pulpit spreading the good news. While we are condemning the Jews to eternity in hell, we are worshipping the King of the Jews. While we circle our wagons around the Arabian bull in the ring, should or should we not play make-a-deal?, and carving totem poles to stand on, God has all the answers.

His answers bring peace beyond our understanding. Philippians 4:6-7.

Here is another point-of-view:

• 1 Corinthians 12, the manifestations of the Spirit unite us.
• 1 Corinthians 13, they are useless without the love of God.
• 1 Corinthians 13, they will one day fade and not be needed anymore because we will be so full of God.
• 1 Corinthians 14, their purpose is to edify.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7 TLB)

Photo by Raisa Milova on Unsplash


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com