Sunday 11 October 2015

Sermon: Prophecy

This morning I am going to speak to you about The gift of prophecy. The gift of prophecy is manifested to us in our lives in many different ways. One is the ability to foretell events, and the other is to understand, and interpret the prophecies made by others. We have to remember that holding the priesthood is one of many prerequisites for possessing this gift. We have been informed many times in the scriptures of women possessing this gift and so they also possess the priesthood as do men. we read:-
 
1  FOLLOW after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
2  For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
3  But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
4  He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
5  I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. (New Testament | 1 Corinthians 14:1 - 5)
 
Paul informs us in the Book of Acts
 
8  And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Cæsarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
9  And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
10  And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judæa a certain prophet, named Agabus.
11  And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
(New Testament | Acts 21:8 - 11)
 
Luke also speaks of Anna the prophetess which by definition means she also held the priesthood, she testified of the divinity of Jesus as a baby. There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity.
 
37  And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
38  And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
39  And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
40  And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
(New Testament | Luke 2:36 - 40)
 
In closing Nephi taught that we must have the spirit, and gift of prophecy to understand prophecy as we read in 2 Nephi 15:1-4.
 
1  NOW I, Nephi, do speak somewhat concerning the words which I have written, which have been spoken by the mouth of Isaiah.  For behold, Isaiah spake many things which were hard for many of my people to understand; for they know not concerning the manner of prophesying among the Jews.
2  For I, Nephi, have not taught them many things concerning the manner of the Jews; for their works were works of darkness, and their doings were doings of abominations.
3  Wherefore, I write unto my people, unto all those that shall receive hereafter these things which I write, that they may know the judgments of God, that they come upon all nations, according to the word which he hath spoken.
4  Wherefore, hearken, O my people, which are of the house of Israel, and give ear unto my words; for because the words of Isaiah are not plain unto you, nevertheless they are plain unto all those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy.  But I give unto you a prophecy, according to the spirit which is in me; wherefore I shall prophesy according to the plainness which hath been with me from the time that I came out from Jerusalem with my father; for behold, my soul delighteth in plainness unto my people, that they may learn. (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 25:1 - 4)
 
We are so blessed to have Matthew Gill as our living prophet whom God has raised up for us. He is not free from the common struggles in this world we all face on a daily bases. He is God’s holy vessel on earth to assist us in efforts to become a saved people.
 
In The Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Apostle and Third Elder Peter Barber

 

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