THE DANGER OF SPIRITUAL CONTEMPT 2
NOVEMBER 10, 2026
TEXT: Despise not prophesyings. (1 Thessalonians 5:20)
Today, we shall continue from where we stopped previously on the danger of spiritual contempt. We discussed how many believers despise prophecies, especially due to over-familiarity with God and His ways.
Apart from over-familiarity with God, one other crucial reason that may be attributed to contemptuous attitudes towards prophecies is the plethora of fake prophets who have filled the world today. Many prophets are ravenous wolves and are only out to devour the flock. This has made people take the Word of God with a pinch of salt.
WHY IS PAUL’S INSTRUCTION ON NOT DESPISING PROPHECIES IMPORTANT?
- The abuse of something does not invalidate its existence. The fact that there are false prophets everywhere does not mean we don’t have genuine prophets who constantly and genuinely hear from God. Even Jesus Himself warned us about potential prophetic wolves who are in sheep’s clothing but are inwardly ravenous wolves. False teachers, pastors, evangelists, prophets, and apostles exist, and so do the genuine ones. Do not allow the presence of counterfeits to derail you from being connected to the genuine ones.
- Spiritual gifts are given by God to edify us and provide guidance for us where necessary. The Holy Spirit communicates the mind of God to us, and this is only possible through spiritual gifts ranging from the word of knowledge, the word of wisdom, prophecy, discernment, etc. If we maintain a contemptuous attitude towards spiritual gifts simply because of our past experiences, we will surely lose touch with divine and spiritual realities. Sometimes, what you dismiss as a mere prophetic utterance may be an instrument through which God prepares His people for an important assignment or an impending situation. Imagine if the apostles had shown a contemptuous attitude towards the prophecy by Agabus about the global famine at that time, perhaps because they considered themselves more highly ranked than he was. Rather, they made arrangements and sent relief materials to some of the brethren in Judea. That prophecy offered guidance and helped the disciples tackle the famine (Acts 11:27–30).
- Prophecies don’t become prophecies merely because they favour us. Many people only love hearing things they want to hear. However, when they receive a prophecy that calls us to repentance, holiness, forgiveness, or discipline, we tend to become uncomfortable. A good biblical example is Ahab, who only wanted to hear a prophecy that he should go to Ramoth-gilead for battle, even though it was spiritually dangerous for him to do so. This made him accuse Prophet Micaiah of only prophesying bad things about him (1 Kings 22:1–28).
SEARCHLIGHT: Never become overly comfortable to the extent that you start despising the manifestation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
PRAYER: O LORD, help me to show reverence for Your works, in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.
BIBLE READING: Isaiah 19–21; Mark 16.
PASTOR MICHAEL OMOLE
