Week 7 - SAY IT
CONNECT
What are you thankful for?
What challenge are you facing?
Have there been any answers to prayer?
Pray for each other.
Did anything stand out to you from last week’s follow-up Bible readings and video on the 5 Step Prayer Model?
How did your “I will …” statement from last week go?
How did your sharing goal from last week go?
How’s your memory work coming along?
Acts 4:31 (NIV)
After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
DISCOVER
Let’s start with a review.
NEED IT
As we partner with Jesus in mission to those around us, we need the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
BELIEVE IT
Just as Jesus ministered through the Person and power of the Holy Spirit, so can we.
SEEK IT
Because we continually need the filling of the Holy Spirit, let’s continually seek it.
TRY IT
As you are led by the Holy Spirit, act on these leadings from the Holy Spirit.
USE IT
Use your spiritual gift(s) for the blessing of others and the glory of God.
PRAY IT
Pray for others in the power of the Holy Spirit.
And now …
SAY IT
Say what the Holy Spirit is saying to you.
Ask God to speak to you as you read His Word.
John 10:27 (CSB)
My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me.
What’s the prerequisite for hearing the voice of Jesus? What’s the appropriate response to hearing Jesus’ voice?
Acts 2:14-18 (NLT)
14 Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. 15 These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that. 16 No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:
17 ‘In the last days,’ God says,
‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your young men will see visions,
and your old men will dream dreams.
18 In those days I will pour out my Spirit
even on my servants—men and women alike—
and they will prophesy” (quoting Joel 2:28-29).
Who gets filled with the Holy Spirit?
What are some results of having the Holy Spirit poured out upon us?
1 Peter 4:10-11 (NIV)
10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
How’s it possible to speak the very words of God?
What’s the ultimate purpose for speaking God’s words and serving in God’s strength?
1 Corinthians 14:1-3 (NIV)
1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. 2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.
1 Corinthians 14:26 (NET)
What should you do then, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each one has a song, has a lesson, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all these things be done for the strengthening of the church.
What are other reasons for using the speaking gifts of the Holy Spirit?
How have you experienced the gift of prophecy in Christian community? Was this positive or negative?
1 Corinthians 14:29 (NLT)
Let two or three people prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said.
1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 (NIV-1984)
19 Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil.
Why does the gift of prophecy or any leading from the Lord need to be evaluated and tested?
God speaks primarily through His Word—the Bible. So if you want a word from the Lord, read your Bible.
But as you read your Bible, you will discover that God also speaks to us by His Spirit through a still, small voice, dreams and visions, angels, and the gifts of prophecy, tongues, and interpretation. So how can we grow in practicing and testing prophetic words? Let’s take a look.
Testing the Prophetic
Use this ABC Test for prophetic words, interpretation of tongues, or any leading you sense from the Spirit.
A. Is it Affirming?
Prophetic words are given for the strengthening, encouraging and comfort of others (1 Corinthians 14:3). In other words, the purpose of prophecy is to affirm and build people up.
That doesn’t mean the Spirit won’t give a word of correction to you or through you for another. But these words of correction must be handled with great care. Satan would condemn us, but the Spirit lovingly convicts us. So make sure to share words of correction in an affirming way. They must build up the other person. If you’re unsure how to share a word of correction, confidentially seek wisdom from a trusted brother or sister.
Here’s a good test question for affirmation: “Is this something Jesus would say — and would He say it this way?” In other words, do you see the fruit of the Spirit in both the content of the word and the manner in which it is shared?
B. Is it Biblical?
Test every “word” by the Word of God. A prophetic impression doesn’t need to quote a verse directly, but it must align with the overall teaching and character of Scripture. And any word that doesn’t pass this test must be rejected.
C. Is it Confirmed?
Invite others to help discern whether the prophetic word is from the Lord. Especially when a word involves significant decisions, seek wisdom from mature believers and allow time for confirmation. Testing a word from the Lord isn’t unbelief — it’s obedience, because God commands us to let the others evaluate what is said (1 Corinthians 14:29) and test everything (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
Quoting Deuteronomy 19:15, the Apostle Paul says, On the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter shall be CONFIRMED (2 Corinthians 13:1 - NASB - emphasis added).
If the prophetic word is not confirmed, hold it loosely and wait. Confirmation may come. If it is confirmed, you can move forward with confidence.
In conclusion, if a word contradicts God’s prophetic purpose (Affirming), Scripture (Biblical), or community discernment (Confirmed), simply set it aside.
Do you find these guidelines helpful?
What might you add to these guidelines?
Practicing the Prophetic
Take turns focusing on one person. Ask the Lord how He would strengthen, encourage and comfort them (1 Corinthians 14:3). Then sit quietly and listen. You may receive a thought, picture, passage or even a physical sensation (such as a pain in your body).
When sharing this impression, avoid overly authoritative language like “Thus says the Lord.” Instead, offer impressions gently and invite the person to test it with the others present. Say something like: “I had a thought/picture/passage/pain that might be from the Lord. Does this resonate with you? What do the rest of you think?”
If nothing comes, that’s okay—prayerful listening is part of learning.
Test everything using the ABC Test.
Don’t force it. But if something comes to mind, share it. The goal, of course, isn’t to impress others, but to love well and build others up. And remember faith is spelled T-R-Y.
For how to use spiritual gifts, prophecy and tongues in community, see Lead The Way - SPIRITUAL GIFTS, PROPHECY AND TONGUES.
LIVE
What truth have you discovered from today’s Bible passage(s) and conversation?
What would stop you from believing and obeying this truth?
How will you live out this truth this coming week? Finish this statement: “I will ….”
Who else needs to hear this truth? How could you share it with them?
When will we meet again?
Who will facilitate that meeting?
Pray for God’s help as you seek to follow Jesus this coming week.
FOLLOW-UP BIBLE READINGS
Here are the Bible passages you are encouraged to read this coming week:
BUDDY SYSTEM
Connect with your buddy this week and ask each other these questions:
How are your readings going?
How’s your “I will …” statement coming along?
How’s your sharing goal coming along?
How can I pray for you?