Innocent of the Blood of All People

Evaluating Prophecy

Acts 21:1-15

1. What do we do when prophetic words differ?

Acts 20:22-23, (NIV)
"And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.

Acts 20:22,
"And now, compelled by the Spirit,

Acts 21:1-4,
After we had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and sailed straight to Cos. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to Patara. We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, went on board and set sail. After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria. We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. Finding the disciples there, we stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.

Acts 21:5-6, (NIV)
But when our time was up, we left and continued on our way. All the disciples and their wives and children accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray. After saying good-by to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home.

1st Paul lived sensitive to the Spirit

Acts 16:6, (NIV)
Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."

2nd The Holy Spirit never told Paul not to go to Jerusalem - He only warned Paul repeatedly

Acts 20:22-23, (NIV)
"And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.

3rd Jesus confirmed that Paul was to go to Jerusalem and Rome

Acts 23:11, (NIV)
The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, "Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome."

Acts 21:7-9, (NIV)
We continued our voyage from Tyre and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for a day. Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.

Acts 21:10-11, (NIV)
After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming over to us, he took Paul's belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, "The Holy Spirit says, 'In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.'"

Acts 21:12, (NIV)
When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with
Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.

2. What do we do when people try to dissuade us?

Acts 21:13, (NIV)
Then Paul answered, "Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."

Acts 21:14, (NIV)
When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, "The Lord's will be done."

Acts 21:15, (NIV)
After this, we got ready and went up to Jerusalem.

3. What are the dependable signs that the Holy Spirit has spoken to us?

1st Understand that not every voice is God’s voice

- Their own voice

- Voice of the Devil

- Voice of the Spirit

2nd A prophecy should strengthen, encourage, and comfort - not beat you up

1 Corinthians 14:3, (NLT)
But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them.

3rd Every prophecy should be weighed or tested

1 Corinthians 14:29,
Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.

4th Value prophecy in your life

1 Thessolians 5:20, (NIV)
do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.

2 Chronicles 20:20, (NLT)
Early the next morning the army of Judah went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. On the way Jehoshaphat stopped and said, "Listen to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in his prophets, and you will succeed."

Ezra 6:14, (NKJV)
So the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo.