THE GIFT OF PROPHECY: AN INTRODUCTION

05/10/2024

"He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification" (1 Corinthians 14:4-5).

The word "prophecy" has been used in the Bible to communicate different things. First, prophecy means to tell forth the mind of God. And it is expected that every Christian ought to be able to tell forth the mind of God about and in any situation. In this regard, prophecy is not to be conflated with the operation of the ministry gift of a prophet. Acts 21:8-10 gives a clear distinction between these two. It says, "On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied. And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea."

Closely related to telling forth the mind of God, prophecy also means to predict the future. Acts 11:28 says, "Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar." This definition of prophecy is akin to the operation of the office of the prophet.

Lastly, prophecy is making war in the spirit realm through the recall and speaking forth of previously received prophecies. 1 Timothy 1:18 says, "This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare." In this regard, you jettison your own strength and strategies about any matter and allow God to speak into existence the answers through your vocal chords. 

This is what Zechariah 4:6-7 means. In the Amplified version of that scripture, the Bible says, "Then he said to me, “This [continuous supply of oil] is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel [prince of Judah], saying, ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit [of whom the oil is a symbol],’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘What are you, O great mountain [of obstacles]? Before Zerubbabel [who will rebuild the temple] you will become a plain (insignificant)! And he will bring out the capstone [of the new temple] with loud shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’” 

It is important to note that prophecy is not a revelation. It is not the word of knowledge, word of wisdom, or word of doctrine. The Bible distinguishes between these four  in 1 Corinthians 14:6 which says, "But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching?"

In essence, to prophesy means to relinquish your might about a situation and speak into being the solution by the word of God under the influence of the Holy Spirit. In 1 Corinthians 2:12-13, the intricacy of prophecy is explained when it says,  "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual."

There is a mind of God concerning the issues of your life that would only come into being through prophecy. If you do not prophesy, you cannot bring these things from the spirit realm into the realm of the material. And this is the Spirit's preference for bringing Him glory through your life. 1 Corinthians 14:5 says, "I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification."

Have a beautiful day!

Faith-Filled Confession

I am God's mouthpiece of intervention in the affairs of my life and destiny. Therefore, I submit myself to the Holy Spirit's influence, declaring as it is, from time to time, His perfect will into being. I am a story of God's grace. Therefore, I thresh every mountain into smithereens. Hallelujah!

Prayer

Begin with thanksgiving for His victory in our lives. Hebrews 13:15.

"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name."

Pray for the president of the United States. Pray for wisdom and guidance to lead as he ought. That he will not succumb to the pressure of political influence that goes against God's will for this nation.

Pray for our mothers. Declare that they live long to see and experience the fruit of their labor.

One-Year Bible Reading Plan: 2 Kings 1-3; John 3:22-36