The Prophetic Test

The Prophetic Test – Study Notes

November 26, 2013

Definition of Prophecy - Any utterance, whether including a prediction or not, of one who has received his message from God.  NAS

Prophetic words can be either conditional or unconditional

He sent a man before them—
Joseph—who was sold as a slave. 

They hurt his feet with fetters, He was laid in irons. Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the Lord tested him.

Psalm 105:17-19 NKJV

I have included the New Living Translation because the last sentence is so clear.

Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them Joseph, who was sold as a slave. They bruised his feet with fetters
and placed his neck in an iron collar. Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character.

Psalm 105:17-19 NLT

his word – dabar – what is said, the actual word itself

The word – imrah – commandment, the literal word of God, torah

God tests Faith with Prophetic words

God tests Character with the Literal Word of God

1.  I Submit My Word to His Word

For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

1 Corinthians 13:9 NKJV

Prophetic words are like a piece of a puzzle. 

2.  I Test My Word

All prophetic words should be tested.  Though the word may be pure it is being delivered through an earthen vessel.  So test it against the pure word of God.

…in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good.

1 Thessalonians 5:18-21 NKJV

3.  I hold on to My Word

Until your word comes to pass, cling to your faith in Christ and keep your conscience clear. Pastor Morris states the way to a clear conscience is through upright actions.

Timothy, my son, here are my instructions for you, based on the prophetic words spoken about you earlier. May they help you fight well in the Lord’s battles. Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked. Hymenaeus and Alexander are two examples. I threw them out and handed them over to Satan so they might learn not to blaspheme God.

1 Timothy 1:18-20 NLT

Again, I have included another version for clarification.

I’m passing this work on to you, my son Timothy. The prophetic word that was directed to you prepared us for this. All those prayers are coming together now so you will do this well, fearless in your struggle, keeping a firm grip on your faith and on yourself. After all, this is a fight we’re in. There are some, you know, who by relaxing their grip and thinking anything goes have made a thorough mess of their faith. Hymenaeus and Alexander are two of them. I let them wander off to Satan to be taught a lesson or two about not blaspheming.

1 Timothy 1:18-20 The Message

Definition of Blaspheme – (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #987 Blasphemeo)

To vilify, to speak impiously (not pious:  lacking in reverence or proper respect (as for God or one's parents), speak evil of, rail on, defame, revile. 

This word means to use speech to bring down another’s value, honor; due-respect; to injure another’s reputation in the eyes of others.  Any contumelious (scornful, insulting, insolent (rude, arrogant, lack of respect)) speech, as of those who railed at Christ, those who speak contemptuously of God or of sacred things.

Please keep in mind that these study notes are merely highlights from the teaching.  I encourage you to watch The Prophetic Test at www.gatewaypeople.com  for clarification and greater understanding. 

The Prison Test

The Prison Test – Study Notes

November 16, 2013

Every test Joseph encounters has to do with stewardship.  We have seen him steward actions, body, attitude, other people’s property and now perseverance.

“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5: 3-5 (bold, my addition)

1.  Tribulation Produces Perseverance

Patience is keeping your heart right while your waiting.

Perseverance is a fight or battle while you are waiting. 

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

A Trial is short.

Tribulation is a long trial.

2.  Perseverance Produces Character

The bible does not say that anything else produces character aside from perseverance.  The worst thing you can do is to deliver someone from a trial that God is using to produce the character they will need in their destiny. 

Our response to the trial determines how long we are in it.

God never rewards manipulation. (Genesis 40: 14-15, 23)  Joseph asked the cupbearer to “mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this house.”  It was two years later that the cupbearer remembered Joseph. 

God is waiting for your character to come up to your destiny.

3.  Character Produces Hope

Hope is that God will walk with us through our trials not deliver us from them. 

Character is not only how we act, it’s how we react.

4.  Hope Produces Appointments

“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5:5

The statement, hope does not disappoint is a double negative.  Not and dis are both negatives so we can restate this as….Hope appoints.

We can look forward to being used through God appointments because  “the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.” 

The Prison Test teaching can be found at www.gatewaypeople.com  Enter The Prison Test in the search bar and look for the video from March/April of 2013.  

The Purity Test

This week we explore Joseph's Purity Test in Genesis 39.  Needless to say, sexual morality it is not a popular topic.  However, it is worth exploring because it not only affects our life, but the lives of those we love as well.   

The Purity Test – Study Notes

November 12, 2013

Sexual morality has everything to do with character. A person who will be immoral in this area of his or her life will also be immoral in other areas.  Sexual immorality opens the door to a host of other sins such as lying and deception. 

1.  Impurity Affects Your Family

            

            Iniquity – inward and dwells in the heart.  Lust is an iniquity.

            Sin or Trespass means to cross the line or transgress  – outward movement.

 “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Is 53:5 KJV

I understood that Jesus died for my sins, but bruised for my iniquities gave me pause.

“God…keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.” Ex 34:6-7

If you have a blind spot for a weakness in your own life you are not going to see it coming in your children.  This is not sins of the father visited on the children as commonly quoted, but inward iniquity of the heart. 

2.  Impurity Affects Your Faith

If you keep immorality in your heart it will affect your relationship with God.  Imagine coming before God worshiping with raised hands and a covered heart. 

3.  Impurity Affects Your Future

Satan will lie and tell you no one will ever know about your sexual immorality.  There are two people who already do: God and you.  Immorality is disobedience toward God.  Such disobedience will cost you the presence of God that you need in order to reach your destiny.

4.  Impurity Begins in the Eye

Genesis 39:7 says, Potiphar’s wife “cast longing eyes on Joseph” 

Where I look - What I hear  - What I feel  - What I expect

I actually borrowed that last line from Beth Moore.  Each statement has an affect on the next.  If you don’t want to get caught in the trap DON’T LOOK. (Matthew 5:28; Psalm 101:3; Proverbs 27:20; Matthew 6:22-23; Job 31:1)

As always, I encourage you to visit www.gatewaypeople.com and check out the teaching from Pastor Robert Morris.  Enter The Purity Test in the search bar in the upper right hand corner and click on the teaching from March/April of 2013.  These notes are directly from the video and Pastor Morris' book, From Dream to Destiny.

Blessings!

The Palace Test

The Palace Test – Study Notes

November 5, 2013

The Palace Test is a test of Stewardship.  What are you going to do with those things that have been entrusted to you by God?

At this point in our story (Genesis 39) Joseph is installed into Potiphar’s home and entrusted with “all that he had”.   We soon find that whatever Joseph put his hand to prospered because he was a faithful steward.  Before we see how let me just say…

Prospering is not a bad word!

The Lord would like for your marriage to prosper, your children to prosper, your work to prosper and your relationships to prosper.  He wants you to succeed.

Don’t let a bad prosperity doctrine or the enemy’s guilt steer you away from God’s blessing.  There are 63 mentions of prospering in the Old Testament alone.  I think it’s safe to say prospering is God’s idea.

1.  The Key to Prospering is the presence of the Lord.

Gen 39:2  “The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man.” NKJV

The Orthodox Jewish Bible says; “…a man God makes prosper.”  It is very clear that the cause of success is the Lord. 

2.  The Key to the Presence of the Lord is Obedience.

2 Chronicles 17:3-4 – “ the Lord was with Jehoshaphat….because he walked in God’s commandments.” NKJV

1 Samuel 18:14 - “David was prospering in all his ways for the Lord was with him.” NASB

3.  The Key to Obedience is Faith.

If we really believe, we will obey. 

Hebrews 3: 18-19 “And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”  NJKV

It was not disobedience that prevented them from entering in – it was unbelief.  If they had believed God’s words, they would have obeyed Him. And if they had obeyed Him, they would have entered into His rest. 

4.  The Key to Faith is hearing the Word.

This is the best news yet.  This is something we can all do…hear the Word of God.

Romans 10:17 – “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” NASB

Isaiah 55:10 – “So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”  NASB

The Word accomplishes, succeeds, transforms, heals, equips, restores, protects, enlightens and gives hope.

There is power in the Word of God!

In Summary:

The Word produces Faith

Faith produces Obedience

Obedience produces the Presence of the Lord

The Presence of the Lord produces Prosperity. 

I encourage you to watch this teaching at www.gatewaypeople.com  The best way to find this video is enter – The Palace Test in the search bar located in the upper right hand corner of the main Gateway website.  A list of videos will come up.  Select The Palace Test from March/April of 2013.  May God bless you in hearing the word.