Romans 12:1 tells us not to be conformed to the ways of the world. The strength of the Church is in her uniqueness. Our victory is in the peculiarity of our faith and not in our conformity to worldly standards.
We might adopt their technology. We might use their gadgets. But we must be careful not to conform to their culture. Our words must not be like theirs – ours must be seasoned with the Grace of God that dwells in us.
Our lifestyles must be unique from theirs. We must be consecrated unto God. Until the Church restores her culture of uniqueness, she will remain powerless.
The word ‘Prophecy’ Biblically speaking refers to an inspired message given to God’s people. It is a word of exhortation, admonition or promise of a future occurrence from God to His people.
2 Peter 1:21: “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
‘Prophesied’ in the Greek word of the aforementioned scripture {propheteuo} confirms this as it means the foretelling of future events as well as speaking under divine inspiration. Propheteuo is gotten from two words; Pro and Phemi.
Phemi means to reveal one’s thoughts. It also means to bring one’s secret thoughts to light – while Pro to speak ahead of time or beforehand. When these two words are brought together; Pro-Phemi they give us the meaning of revealing God’s secret thoughts before they manifest.
Prophecy is a gift and an activity that is not limited to believers; even unbelievers prophesy. Diviners and spiritualists equally prophecy; they give predictions of the future and also give inspired messages – however, these messages are not from God, but from the devil.
Balaam prophesied using sorcery (Numbers 24:1).
The prophets in Jeremiah’s days prophesied by Baal {Jer. 2:8}
Our concern as believers should not be with the prophecies that come from these folks, but with the one that comes from God’s own prophets. However, even genuine prophets, especially those who only have the gift of prophecy without productive training and mentorship from a genuine senior prophet, can give inaccurate prophecies or prophecies from the wrong source.
This is the reason a believer must properly understand what a prophecy is and what it is not, so that he/she can be able to discern which prophecy to accept and the one to reject.
Biblical Prophecy is for Edification, Comfort and Exhortation
1 Corinthians 14:3: “But [on the other hand], the one who prophesies [who interprets the divine will and purpose in inspired preaching and teaching] speaks to men for their upbuilding and constructive spiritual progress and encouragement and consolation.” (AMP)
Whatever prophecy that God is gives to His Church or the members of the Church is not to make them moody or dampen their faith. It is only evil prophecies inspired by Satan or concocted by man that aim at weakening the faith of believers.
True prophecy stirs up faith and enflames the dimming light in the heart of a believer. When a believer is downcast or is in a tight corner, God can speak to that believer through His word {the Bible} or through the pastor of that believer – that is prophecy.
When God brings a scripture to your heart during your darkest moments, that Bible verse is a word of prophecy to uphold and strengthen your faith. However, when during your dark moments, all you get are predictions of your downfall, scary tales and scary dreams, you must know how to rebuke and reject them. They are not from God! God-inspired prophecies are meant to comfort us and to also edify us.
Furthermore, prophecy is also meant to EXHORT. The word ‘exhortation’ signifies a call for an action. It could be a call to repentance, prayer etc. A lot of times, God’s prophecy does not only come to comfort or edify us, it also comes to correct us. It comes to admonish us and show us the right path.
God used the likes of Isaiah, Jeremiah and a host of other prophets to fulfil this in the Old Testament. However, a concise study in the Books will reveal that though they contained some negative prophecies about Israel, they always ended with a word of comfort and solace. And in some instances, God did this to bring them to repentance. Thus, God also uses prophecy to warn us of the consequences of wrongdoing.
The purpose of prophecy revolves around this.
WHAT HOLY SPIRIT-INSPIRED PROPHECY IS NOT.
Revealing of one’s past mistakes.
Revealing irrelevant facts about a person.
An evil foretelling meant to create fear or swindle a person
Nwodo Divine sums it up here;
“God reveals his definition of prophecy in the book of 1st Peter. 2 Peter 1:19 says ‘We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts’. 2 Peter 1:20 says ‘Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.’ 2 Peter 1:21 says ‘For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.’ Note the following,
Word of Prophecy
Prophecy of Scripture
Moved by the Holy Spirit
Prophecy is speaking forth the word of God by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It is declaring the counsel of God towards a particular situation – and it is founded upon the already existing sure prophecy – God’s word.
Now, based on this definition, will you define prophecy as telling a person facts about his past and would you define a prophet as one who can tell you the colour of your father’s house and the sins of your granny.
Where is the counsel of God in that? Where and how is the will of God in that?
God bless you – it is a prophecy. Soand so has been happening, but the Lord is turning it around – such is a prophecy There’s doom in the air, but if we repent, we will be saved – such is prophecy.
Bible is the Book full of prophecies of what God has/will do for His church and the world in general.
Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the WORDS of THIS PROPHECY, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
Thus we see that Biblical perspective of Prophecy is giving God’s counsel.
Every civilization, kingdom or race has its Culture. There is always a distinct manner of living peculiar to its citizens.
There is always something that marks them out from other people. A sense of identity that is expressed in their general disposition to every situation.
As representatives of a Kingdom, we have a culture that sets us apart from others, a pattern of operation that is peculiar to us.
Ever since the world fell into the state that it is in today; in control of the enemy by virtue of man’s fall and relinquishing dominion to the Satan; God has been interested in setting his people apart both in behavior and disposition.
He gives them His laws and desires they walk in His ways. He sets before them a pattern to conform to. This has been from the days of the Israelites to the present.
The kingdom of God has its culture. A pattern its citizens must conform to. A way they are to walk.
It is quite disheartening to see a believer behaving in a manner strange to Christendom’s culture.
It is very sad to see that in some situations, there seems to be no difference between a believer and an unbeliever.
What has gone wrong, why is this so?
It could be due to more emphasis being placed on the manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit than the fruit of The Spirit in this generation.
Most Christians are taught that they should speak in tongues but not that that same lips should not slander others.
That they should heal the sick but not that they should also cater for the needs of the sick through giving.
This leads to the production of many Charismatic, yet, poor-in-character Christians. Believers who speak in tongues, yet, cannot be trusted with someone else’s finances.
Believers should be exposed to both the Power and Character perspective of Christ.
Another reason is the low concept of Christianity that is being incorporated into the modern believer.
A poor understanding of the concept of grace and liberty that has been afforded the believer in Christ, that seems to impress the idea that the Christlike character expression of the believer is of no importance. A Christianity that accommodates abortion of young ones. One that is compatible with laziness and Spiritual complacency. It is quite saddening.
What is the pattern of the New Creation’s Behavior?
What is the standard of conduct of the believer? In what way should pattern his steps?
There are several things that distinguishes us as sons. Patterns expected to be seen in us. Expressions that must be made manifest and highlighted in the different areas of our lives.
These are different areas we are expected to differ in compared to the pattern of the world.
1. Manner of Food:
Food is an expression of culture.
Food in this context refers to the things which we feed our minds with. What we constantly feed our mind is a determinant of what culture we will conform to.
If you eat the food of dogs, you will be weak like dogs.
If you eat that of Lions, you will roar.
When the world delights in feeding on sensual musics and books based on knowledge against Christ, we must delight in feeding on the Word, the Truth and the Life.
2. The Manner of Clothing
What people wear affirms what kingdom the belong to. Clothes here refer to our behavior, disposition and carriage. It refers to our mannerisms and adornments.
Ours must be Noble and not common. That a behavior is popular does not mean its virtuous.
That others “pepper dem” doesn’t matter to us because we are salts.
We must stick to the uniform of the kingdom.
Colossians 3:8-10: “But now you yourselves are to PUT OFF all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have PUT OFF the old man with his deeds, 10 and have PUT ON the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him. “
3. Language
This refers to our manner of speech. The fruits of our lips.
Our language as believers should be one that completely highlights who we are.
In a generation full of hate and pain, our words should be soothing and like a balm, healing.
Members of the Kingdom do not speak anyhow. That vulgar words trend and are famous does not mean a believer should speak them.
Colossians 4:6: “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”
We have a pattern that we should adher to. One that highlights our uniqueness and peculiarity as a chosen people. This pattern is found in our constitution (The Word of God).
This posits that as we live by God’s word and will, we conform to his pattern.
Romans 12:2: ‘And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…’
Culture is the way of life of a group of people. It includes their values, their mode of dressing, their language, customs and traditions. In some villages, here in Africa, there are certain days in which neither marriages nor burials are head.
It is their custom there, and though a pagan belief, they stick by it, and they punish those who break it. That is how strong the idol worshippers adhere to their culture. The strength of every village lies not in the god they serve, but in the culture they inculcate in the villagers present there.
The same way the idol worshippers have their culture, is the same way this world at large has its culture.
THE WORLD HAS A CULTURE
Have you ever observed that the moment one announces publicly that one is a homosexual; one receives praises and applause from different ‘Human Rights’ organizations.
But when one publicly speaks against homosexuality, one is criticized and labelled as a, ‘Religious Extremist’. It is their culture! The culture of the world celebrates sodomy. They celebrate ladies wearing clothes that reveal sensitive parts of their body. Fornication and abortion fall under the culture of the world. The culture of this world includes everything that contradicts God’s principles and laws.
Divorce, Pornography. These are all permissible under the culture of the world.
Living in this world even as a believer, one can be tempted to yield to the culture of the world, just to belong and avoid being persecuted.
But in Romans 12, Paul speaks vehemently against it.
Romans 12:2: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world…..”
THE KINGDOM OF GOD ALSO HAS A CULTURE!
Ephesians 5:8: For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light” (NIV)
There is a way we live as the light of the world. When we got born again, even though our spirits were recreated, our mind and our behaviours remained the same. But God expects that as we grow in our faith, we begin to remove these negative thinking and behavioural patterns and develop in us, the pattern of living for Christians.
This Kingdom Culture is what has made many great in this kingdom. It is what has made many believers survive the hardest of opposition and live an ever victorious life.
1. THE CULTURE OF ENQUIRY
2 Samuel 2:1
In the course of time, David enquired of the Lord. “Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” he asked. The Lord said, “Go up.” David asked, “Where shall I go?” “To Hebron,” the Lord answered. (NIV)
Proverbs 3:6: “in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (NIV)
True saints are never presumptuous about what to do. They always enquire from God before making choices.
Believers who are confused and lacking direction are believers who have not developed the culture of always enquiring from God.
Most of the divorces that happened in Christian marriages happened because of the inability to enquire from the Lord before stepping into that marriage.
God wants us to acknowledge Him, not just in our businesses, or in our education, but in all our ways.
Have you sought for the Lord’s permission to do business with that partner?
Have you sought for the Lord’s permission to take your kids to that school?
When we teach on these things, we are tagged as extremists. But extremism is actually when you live your life and you make your choices without bothering about what God has to say about it.
Take a look at this:
Proverbs 3:6: “Listen for GOD’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go…” (MSG)
You don’t need to hear the ‘loud’ voice of God before knowing that God has spoken.
God speaks in different ways.
He can implant a strong, compelling resistance deep within you.
He can give a sense of optimism and tranquillity to your spirit.
He can speak through your pastor.
He speaks in many ways. We do not hear because we are not concerned with what He has to say.
Develop the habit of always asking God,
‘What should I do’
‘Is this right’ ‘Is she the right one’. ‘Should I go ahead and do this’. It will save you from a lot of trouble.
2. THE CULTURE OF SENSITIVITY
Source: Paul Sohn
Luke 5:22: “But when Jesus perceived their thoughts…. (KJV)
Luke 20:23
But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me? (KJV)
Jesus was the most controversial public figures in His humanity on Earth.
He was hated and despised by the cunning Jewish Rabbis. As result of their hatred, they made several attempts to get him entangled in serious problems, by asking him tricky questions.
Just like Jesus, Christians are hated around the world, by the world. In places like China and North-Eastern Nigeria, Christians are being murdered in large numbers.
The world hates Christians, and they always look for ways to get them in problems. Hence, you cannot afford to live in this world as a genuine, devout Christian and not be sensitive.
Spiritual sensitivity doesn’t mean a believer should live in suspicion, reclusiveness and timidity. It simply means we must be proactive and discerning in our daily works.
Spiritual sensitivity is a culture, and a skill that the believer must master. There are times I interact with very jovial people, yet, because I have a trained spirit, I can see beyond their jovial outlook, to behold the depressed and destabilized person they are within. This helps me a lot in liberating people from depression.
Training your spiritual sensitivity is quite simple.
i. Pray regularly. Prayer keeps us in spirit-mode. This helps us capture spiritual signals and signs that God sends into our spirit to keep us safe and prosperous.
ii. Observe fasts at intervals: The absence of our fasting causes our spirits to get rusted; and it reduces the ability of our spirit to get necessary information quickly.
iii. Do not be in a hurry! Always stop to ponder and meditate before doing things. Be ever cautious of what the Holy Spirit is saying within you.
These two principles outlined above, are quite necessary for you to imbibe.
If you do not imbibe the culture of God’s kingdom, you will be like an old wine skin carrying a new wine.
It will make you a misfit both to the Kingdom of God and to the world. Develop the habit of always enquiring from God. Develop the habit of being sensitive to His voice within you.
Pray this prayer:
“Dear Father, I thank you for giving me access to your counsel and wisdom. Having gotten knowledge of the utmost priority of seeking your counsel in my daily endeavours, I decide that from today, I shall continually enquire from you. I shall seek your approval or disapproval in whatever I am going to do. I shall listen for your voice in whatever way it comes. Thank you, Father. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen”.
Now, go ahead and put what you learnt tonight into practice.
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