Gifted Part 5 Prophecy

The ability to receive and proclaim a message from God. This could involve the foretelling of future events. Its primary purpose as seen in 1 Corinthians 14:3 is forthtelling: one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement, and consolation. The Hebrew word for prophesy is Navi which means to speak. This does not necessarily mean the future. It is also what God is saying now.

This gift provides a word from God to a specific group, not the normative Word of God to all believers. Some maintain that prophecy is still operative in this sense today, while others say that the nearest current equivalent is Spirit-empowered preaching.

Paul and Prophecy

1 Corinthians Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. 2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. 3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

What is Paul telling us? 1. We should seek to have love (charity) 2. We are instructed to desire spiritual gifts 3. We should all seek to prophesy, but we are not all called to office of prophet (Ephesians 4:11)

4. Prophesy will edify, comfort, and exhort. 5. Those that prophesy are edifying (uplifting) the one another and the church.

What Isaiah said about prophesying correctly Isaiah 23

Prophets should walk in accordance to the righteousness of God 11 For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the L ORD. Note that God does not call them false yet. He first takes issue with the way that they live.

Prophesy must not come from a place of authority seeking. 13 And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err. Baal means lord in Hebrew. It is dangerous to prophesy with the desire to gain lordship or authority. Prophets are simply a messenger and should not desire to gain a position or platform as a result of their prophesy.

Never dilute the word from God 14 I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness; they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah. Adultery may mean more than infidelity here. It may also mean to adulterate something by adding things that take away from its purity. Don’t add to the prophesy. Say it how God gave it to you.

Those that prophesy must stay in the presence of the Lord. 18 For who hath stood in the counsel of the L ORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it? It is important for all of us to stay in the counsel of the Lord so that we will know what to say, when to say it, and how to say it.

Before you deliver the word from God make sure that it is time. 21 I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. Note that God did not call them false. He only said that they ran without being sent and without hearing a word from God. Just because people desire a word does not mean that you will always have one.

A word from God demands a reaction 22 But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings. When you have stood in the counsel of God, He will give you a word that will cause people to hear God’s word. This is why the word of God cannot come from anywhere but the counsel of God. When it comes from our counsel it is ineffective.

Be very careful with dreams in the digital age. 25 I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. 32 Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the L ORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the L ORD.

We have so many influences (TV, internet, social media) that we need to be careful what we make of dreams. Some of our dreams are just a mash-up of what we allowed into our eye and ear gate. The more you stay before God, the more clearer His words will be to you. Accuracy requires sacrifice. Are we willing to sacrifice worldly influences for spiritual clarity?