Who Should Prophesy?

But who are God’s prophets today? And what does prophesying have to do with being a Christian?

Who Should

Prophesy?

In a letter that the apostle Paul wrote to Christians at Corinth, after emphasizing to them the all important role of love and how spiritual gifts can be made more effective through it (I Corinthians 12 and 13), he brought them back to the basics of why we need spiritual gifts from God. He wrote: "Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but specially that you may prophesy." I Corinthians 14:1 In verse 31, Paul says that all of us can actually prophesy. He wrote: "For you can ALL prophesy one by one, that all may be encouraged." Later in the same chapter, in verse 39 he again emphasized and wrote down, "Therefore, brethren, DESIRE earnestly to prophesy…" In the authorized version (KJV) it reads, "Covet to prophesy."

How should one recognize a “prophet from God” today? Will we be able to recognize him? What is this thing called “prophecy” or “prophesying”? Should Christians prophesy today?

What did Paul mean by the above verses, specifically pointing out that we must all "covet" or "desire earnestly" to prophesy? Is there something in prophesying that, like the early Christians at Corinth, we still do not understand? Let’s have some background.

When we think of a prophet and prophecy, we normally associate the words with the great prophets of old in the Bible. We think of rough, mountain men like Elijah and John the Baptist. We recall the vivid and very colorful prophecies of Daniel and Ezekiel. We learn from the Bible that God actually raised up a prophet from the royal line who was educated, and who would use his literary talents to write prophecies, like Isaiah. And, God even chose a prophet while he was still in his mother’s womb, like the prophet Jeremiah.

In the book of Acts during the day of Pentecost, the apostle Peter declared before thousands of gatherings, the following words (quoting the prophecies of Joel): "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 vision; your old

men shall dream dreams. And on my menservants [men] and on My maidservants [women] I will pour out My Spirit in those days and they shall PROPHESY." Acts 2:172:17-18 Here we can learn that prophesying was a phenomenon that accompanied the giving of the Holy Spirit and is very much a sign of God’s people. Those who heard the words of apostle Peter obviously understood his meaning and saw its fulfillment or they wouldn’t have believed him and be baptized on that very same day. The record says three thousand people were immediately added to the church (Acts 2:41) and daring feats were made by them as we can read in succeeding verses and chapters of the book of Acts. In a letter to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul noted that prophets and prophesying are part of a five-fold ministry that God equips His church: "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,…" Ephesians 4:114:11-12 Hence, the church is built on these foundations as Paul affirmed earlier (Ephesians 2: 20-22). As Paul also explained in I Corinthians 12, prophecy is one of the nine gifts (or manifestations) that the Holy Spirit gave to every believer: "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one… the word of WISDOM…word of KNOWLEDGE…FAITH…gift

s of HEALING…workings of MIRACLES…PROPHECY… DISCERNING of Spirits…different kinds of TONGUES…INTERPRETATI ON of tongues. I Corinthians 12:712:7-11 But the question now is: Can we all receive the same gifts? Can one man take to himself an inventory of these gifts and use them as he wills?

"For we know in part and we prophesy in part." I Corinthians 13:8 Prophesying therefore is something that is present in us. We all have it, it is part of God’s earnest upon receiving the Holy Spirit. Just like the disciples in Acts 2, they were given utterances and prophesied as they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Each one who receives the Holy Spirit have that spirit of prophecy. And, what is this "spirit of prophecy"? Let us read from what the apostle John heard and recorded:

In concluding the same chapter, Paul asked the question: "Are all apostles? Are all prophets?… Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues?" (I Cor. 12:29-30) The implication of his questions was that all these gifts are not for one man or woman alone but that these gifts are given in different measures so all will profit and learn from one another so that the whole body (Church) will be edified (12:26). These are enabling gifts not for the individual but for the church. But then he says that we should "earnestly desire the best gifts." What did he mean?

"And I [John] fell at his [angel] feet to worship him. But he said to me, ‘See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.’" Revelation 19:10

In I Corinthians 13, Paul gave us the proper motivation for gifts to be exercised properly—and to the fullest. Contrary to what some believe that Paul talked about the "greatest gift" in this chapter and by that, they mean love, Paul actually viewed love (Gk: agape) as "the fruit of the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 5:9) which is present and must grow in each individual and without it, spiritual gifts would be misdirected—thus, would amount to nothing (I Cor. 13:1-10). In earnestly desiring the best gift Paul showed them "a more excellent way" which is the exercise of spiritual gift through love. Consequently, love should be the stirring factor in all spiritual gifts. And, Paul’s emphasis should be viewed in the light of what he said in chapter fourteen, when he asserted, "Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but specially that you may PROPHESY."

So, something must by clear by now in what Paul is trying to explain. Revelation 19:10 says, that the SPIRIT of prophecy is the "TESTIMONY of Jesus Christ." To have the testimony [Gk: martureo from which the word ‘martyr’ was derived] means to bear witness or have a witnessing evidence or proof of His Words (Psalm 19:7; John 21:24). This is what Paul meant when he wrote early on to the Corinthian brethren that, "…you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you so that you come short in no gift…" (I Cor. 1:5-7). Again, he said, "I…did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God." (I Cor. 2:1) This comment is interesting in the light of what he said in I Corinthians 13:8 and 14:1. Every Christian who has the testimony of Jesus Christ has the spirit of prophecy. Though we can’t all be prophets (i.e, "office" of the Prophet) but because we have the testimony of Jesus Christ, we can prophesy "in part", said Paul.

So, why? What does that mean? First, notice what he said in that same chapter:

But how is this done? How can one prophesy? Paul’s answers to these can be found in the immediate verse of I Corinthian 14, he wrote: "But he who prophesies speaks edification, and exhortation and comfort to men." Verse 3. 3 Thus, this is the emphasis of Paul. To prophesy is to be able to exhort and give comfort for "he who prophesies edifies the church" (verse 4). As he continues: "How it is then brethren? Whenever you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all thing be done for edification…For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may be encouraged." I Corinthians 26, 31 Contrary to what some people believe that prophesying always refers to foretelling or forecasting of future events, the meaning refers to a witnessing testimony of God’s words and of His Son, or forth telling (or declaring of something ‘from this day onward’). The spirit of prophecy is God’s testimony of what He and His Son are doing and will be accomplishing in our lives. And we are duty bound to make this testimony known to others (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47-48). We are to bear witness and our lives should be a testimony to that. Notice how the apostle John understood and used the testimony that he heard: "He who believes in the Son of God has a witness in himself; he who does not

believe God has made himself a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given to His Son. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son." I John 5:105:1011 The spirit of prophesying as Paul used the word refers to: Edification (Rom.14:19;15:2, I Thes.5:11), Exhortation (I Tim. 4:13; Titus 1:9;,15; Heb.3:13) and to be able to give Comfort (I Thes.4:18; Eph.6:22). Studying further, the word ‘prophet’ and ‘prophesy’ were derived from the original Hebrew word "naba" (Strong’s 5012) which means to bubble or pour forth words, to flow, to gush; "i.e. to prophesy, speak (or sing) by inspiration". Anyone therefore who ‘bubbles forth’ the words of God—or speaks, sing songs/hymns, exhorts—prophesies (doing the spirit/work of a prophet) in the original sense of the word. The word "prophetes" -which is a classical Greek word, means in the New Testament one who speaks for another, an ‘interpreter’; an inspired speaker. Anyone who has God’s Holy Spirit dwelling in him can interpret, speak with inspiration, sings, exhort, witness, and can make testimony for God. This is not just the role of the teachers, pastors, evangelists, and even prophets. Christians are called to be "Ambassadors for Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:20) and as ambassadors we have the God given rights and enabling Spirit to speak in behalf of the One we represent. The New Testament is replete with these examples, of ‘ordinary’ people—not appointed to the office, i.e. apostle, prophet—who made exploits for God and preached the Gospel (Acts 6:4-7;8:5-6;26-40;18;26;21:9). On the other hand, Paul wrote in Thessalonians: "Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies." I Thessalonians 5:19 5:19-20

Prophesying is therefore something that can be despised or frowned at. It can be quenched, suppressed and even neglected through non-use. This also holds true in quenching the gift of someone who is trying very hard to do something and accomplish a great service to God. We shouldn’t "throw cold water" on these people! It is important that it should prophesying be shown, expressed and encouraged in the church. The church in turn should validate prophecies for proper edification (I Cor. 14:29,32).

This call is for every Christian today and as believers we can all edify, exhort and give comfort to one another.

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In the same analogy Paul wrote to Timothy and says: "Let no one despise your youth, but be example to the believers in word…Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with laying on of hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save yourself and those who hear you." I Timothy 4:124:12-16 Prophesying, as for all other gifts of God, should be prayed for, nourished, and, for it to be evident, should be used and exercised. Finally, as Paul wrote: "Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy…" I Corinthians 14:39 To desire means that we must cultivate our want to prophesy. It means to be "zealous for"—literally, to be a zealot. To minister effectively in the gift of prophecy all of us should have that burning desire in us. And as he added, we must "follow the way of love (NIV)" for we can "ALL prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged."

Mustard Seed Evangelistic Work (MSEW) Raul Hipe For Inquiries and Free Additional Literature e-mail: [email protected]