YouVersion Reformation Reading Plan, day 246

I Corinthians 14 §

On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.

I Corinthians 14:3

Recently several people around me (some whom are very focused on the APEST spiritual gifts inventory idea) have remarked to me that I am a “prophet” (under the APEST framework). I think that this verse reminds us of the reason to prophesy (note that I mean prophesy in the “bring the Word of God to bear on a situation”, not “predict the future and win money in the stock market” sense). Prophecy is not about making ourselves feel better than others because we understand more scriptural truth than they do. It’s about giving them the true consolation of the Gospel. It’s about encouraging them in their relationship with the LORD. It’s about building them up into the body of Christ, the church, His perfect bride, equipped for every good work.

This is as much a note to myself as anyone else. I enjoy doing “prophety” things because I’m prideful about “special knowledge”. I need to just love people instead.

Ezra 1 §

Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel — he is the God who is in Jerusalem.

Ezra 1:3

This is the charge to us everyday. Whoever is among you of all His people, may God be with us; let us go to the house of the LORD and build his church. The people of Israel go, and freely give their offerings for the rebuilding.

Ezra 2 §

“…until there should be a priest to consult Urim and Thummim” (verse 63): it is incredible to me that Israel survived as a nation as long as it did, and that the people of Old Testament Israel worshipped God even to the extent that they did, when the best they could do to understand God’s will was to cast lots. No Holy Spirit. Law without a true understanding of grace. God walled off from the people and their sins behind a veil. When God “breaks out” among the people in the Old Testament, there is sorrow because He is in wrath. When Christ dies, the veil is torn, but there is gladness when He rises three days later. Then Pentecost comes, and the Holy Spirit into every believer. We no longer rely on lots to determine God’s will. “This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes” (Psalms 118:23).