Lesson 16 -- Jesus COUNSELS Me

In a previous lesson we learned that God, through the Holy Spirit, gives the church gifts to build up the church. One of those gifts is the gift of prophecy. There is mention of numerous prophets in the old and new testaments. Since all the other spiritual gifts continue to operate in the church it is reasonable to assume that God would also give this gift to the church today. In this lesson we will look at the work of a prophet and how we differentiate between a true and false prophet.

1. What will happen to those who believe His prophets? 2 Chronicles 20:20 “They will ___________________.”

2. Why can’t God talk to us directly? Isaiah 59:2


3. Can we expect the gift of prophecy to be present in the church today?
1 Corinthians 14: 1, 39


4. What did Jesus warn about in the last days? Mathew 24:11


5. How can we tell if a prophet is from God?


6. What is the work of a prophet?
a. Amos 3:7
b. Acts 13:1, 2
c. 1 Corinthians 14:3, 4
d. Ephesians 4:12
e. Acts 11:27-30
f. Acts 15:32


7. How does God speak to the prophets?
a. 2 Peter 1:20, 21
b. Numbers 12:6


8. What are the two characteristics of God’s people in the last days according to Revelation 12:17
a.
b.

9. What is the “The testimony of Jesus”? Revelation 19:10


Note: a testimony is what one tells or shares with someone or a court. Jesus reveals His testimony to us through His messengers, the prophets.

10. In 1845 God called a young sickly girl to give a message to God’s people. She was hesitant at first but later began her work as a “messenger” for God. Although she never claimed to be a prophet, Ellen Harmon (White) had over 2000 visions from God and helped to lead the Seventh-day Adventist church in its, missionary work, publishing work, medical work, and ministry and organization. E. G. White had only a 3rd grade education yet she wrote more than 80 books and thousands of articles and letters of counsel. Her peers recognized that she had the gift of prophecy.

11. When we read or hear of someone who might have the gift of prophecy, what should we do? 1 John 4:1


12. What are we told not to do in 1 Thessalonians 5:20, 21?


13. Should the writings of Ellen White be as authoritative as the Bible?

Why?

Ellen White always referred her students back to the Bible. She claimed that her writings were the lesser light leading to the greater light.

Please note that the Bible and Ellen Whites writings are thought inspired, not word inspired. In other words the prophet hears and sees the message from God then writes it in his/her own words. We must read them in that way. Also Ellen White wrote many letters of council to people with certain needs under different circumstances. Many of these counsels have been compiled into books. When reading her works, look for principles by examining the context, time, place, person to whom it was written, and circumstance of that testimony.

I invite you to read several of her books and decide for yourself if Ellen White was of God or from another spirit. The most popular books are: “Steps To Christ,” “The Desire of the Ages” and “The Great Controversy.”