Paul says one of the most emphasized gifts that should be operating in the church is prophecy.  I want you to understand that this gift manifests itself for the purpose of edification, exhortation, and comfort.  He contrasts it with tongues, and the contrast comes down to just this:  First of all, we see they do not replicate one another.  He that speaks in tongues speaks unto God and gives thanks well; amen?  He that speaks in tongues speaks not unto men but unto God.  Tongues is Godward, primarily.  Could there be a time when we would speak in a language that we are not familiar with miraculously?  And the answer would be yes.  God can use these ways any way He chooses in His sovereignty, but he’s saying this is the general order for the church.  When the church is come together.  We gave you the illustration, an example that was unique with Brother Garlock.  We’ve seen and heard this numerous times of testimonies.  One pops in my mind—and I’m trying to remember where I heard the story—but it was a very rainy, rainy day, and this woman was in the streets of New York, and she just stepped into this church to get out of the rain.  And all of a sudden this woman began to speak in perfect Russian the gospel, the redemptive plan.  And this woman then approached her and began to speak to her in Russian and wanted to inquire more about being born again.  This message had convicted her soul.  And the lady that had done the speaking couldn’t speak a word of Russian.  Isn’t God good?

Those that are driven.  We’re promoting evangelism, in case some of you haven’t caught that yet over the last few weeks.  We’re promoting evangelism.  We’re encouraging you to get out and reach people on the streets, our neighbors, the people at the stores.  Compel them to come, praise God.  Call them the next day.  Give them a ride.  Whatever has to happen to get them into the presence of God and to be able to see, because by this—the love you have for one another—their hearts are convicted and they believe that God has raised Jesus from the dead.  That’s Bible.  When they see a community of love, they know there’s nothing natural about that.  They understand that’s the great testimony.  I said that just to say, don’t get worried about or obsessed with evangelism.

God’s got a lot of ways to reach people; amen?  These signs and wonders.  If that’s not enough, we know that humanity’s going to go into the tribulation, and we know all that’s taking place, all the cataclysmic events in tribulation, but one of the great events people don’t always give a lot of credit to—there’s angels flying to and fro in the heavens proclaiming the gospel, and masses of people are being saved in the tribulation.  God’s merciful.  God’s good, hallelujah.  The ones that will not be saved are those that knew Him and denied Him in this life and have tread His blood beneath their feet and counted it unholy.  And Thessalonians makes it very clear that God will turn them over to strong delusion.  Those that knew Him, those that tasted of Him will stand in the tribulation and be those that are shaking their faces at God and hating Him.  And pagans are going to be saved as these angels proclaim the gospel.  God already knows from the beginning how many there will be and who they are and what their names are.  Let’s be faithful in our part in going into all the world and preaching the gospel.

Father, we thank You for Your Word and for Your grace to us.  We ask that You would move on our hearts to go into our generation and share this gospel.  We ask that we could edify one another here in the community, that we would provoke unto love and good works.  Holy Spirit, we ask for Your visitation, Your voice to be loud and clear through this great, more sure Word of prophecy.  We submit ourselves to Your wisdom and Your counsel, and we declare all Your ways right.  So, Father, be glorified here.  Order our steps tomorrow.  Open doors of utterance for us, and we will give You the praise.  In Jesus’ name; amen.