Prophecy
Pentecost to Pentecostal Part IV: Prophecy
Recap on Spiritual Gifts
The Apostle Paul encourages believers to desire spiritual gifts, especially prophecy. This gift holds high value for the body of Christ, for you and I today.
1 Corinthians 14:1 - Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
1 Corinthians 14:5 - I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied…
Keep pursuing the gifts of God in your life, no matter how long you’ve been saved or desired them.
Gifts Accompanying Prophecy
1 Corinthians 12:7-11 (NKJV) - But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
Two giftings often go with Prophecy:
Word of Knowledge: God reveals something that exists now or in the past, which could not be known naturally by someone else.
Word of Wisdom: The revealing of supernatural instruction, direction, or guidance that reveals the perfect will of God for a specific situation.
These can both be an aspect of the Gift of Prophecy.
What Prophecy Is NOT
- A biblical book or scripture: Many believe prophecy was a gift of the past, foretelling the future (Old Testament prophets, Isaiah, Revelation).
- A teacher/pastor: Some confuse prophecy with expounding on the Word of God, believing God no longer reveals truth beyond the Bible.
Prophecy in the Old Testament
2 Samuel 12:7-12 - Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more! Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon. Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.’”
The prophet Nathan revealed something only David and God knew (word of knowledge), then spoke about David's future (word of wisdom), rebuking him. This prophetic ministry was common, sometimes offering guidance and encouragement.
Prophecy in the Early Church
In Acts 2, Peter explains the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, quoting Joel:
Acts 2:17-18 - ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.
- Prophecy will not cease before the "great and awesome day of the Lord."
- The gift of prophecy is now for both sons and daughters, menservants and maidservants – more frequent than in the past.
Examples of prophecy in Acts:
- Acts 11:27-28 - Agabus prophesied a great famine.
- Acts 13:1 - Prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch.
- Acts 15:32 - Judas and Silas, being prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brethren.
- Acts 19:6 - Paul laid hands on them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
- Acts 21:9 - Philip had four virgin daughters who prophesied.
Purpose of Prophecy
1 Corinthians 14:3 - But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
The gift of prophecy communicates a revealed truth from God for one of these three purposes:
- Edify: To build up, promote growth in Godly wisdom, piety, happiness, holiness.
- Exhort: To call near, summons for help, strongly encourage.
- Comfort: To calm or console.
What Prophecy Looks Like
Prophecy (Hebrew Naba): To utter, to bubble up, to flow like a spring of water.
Words bubble up, hard to stop from speaking. They speak forth (edify, exhort, or comfort)
Advice for Giving a Word
- Not out of anger or emotion.
- Don’t be weird.
- "Thus says the Lord" or "God told me" is not necessary. Instead, give in humility ("I feel" or "I think… the Lord is saying…").
- Don’t give more than what the Lord showed you or said.
- Leave room for them to pray about it.
- Invite feedback.
Practice Your Gift & Receive a Word
1 Corinthians 14:31 - For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.
Romans 12:6 - Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;
Receiving a word:
1 Corinthians 14:29 - Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.
1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 - Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good.
We cannot afford to despise the gift of prophecy. Nor should we allow misuse and misunderstanding to prevent us from embracing it. The gift of prophecy IS for our profit—to encourage, exhort, and comfort us—that we may grow, mature, and move forward according to the will of God.
