The Nine Gifts of the Spirit -- part 4
The Gift of Prophecy
Prophecy is the third “inspiration gift” of the Holy Spirit. It is defined as a supernatural utterance in a known tongue. This gift is an opportunity to speak to man the Word of the Lord.
Prophecy will exhort, edify, or comfort. As exhortation, the spiritual gift of prophecy brings encouragement and/or a beckoning toward God. The edifying prophecy removes fear, feelings of inadequacy, and increases strength. Comforting prophecy gives the feeling of assistance, hope, cheering up, or consolation.
In Numbers 11: 29 Moses said he wished that everyone could prophesy, and today in this Church age, that is possible. Prophecy is available to all. In the Old Testament, prophecy was mostly foretelling. But in the New Testament, prophecy is forth telling. Its main purpose is to make us better Christians.
My first experiences with the spiritual gift of prophecy were honestly personally scary for me. I was afraid that I might make a mistake or mislead someone. But a prophet came to me and told me I needed to repent for thinking only of myself. From that day on, I was more willing to obey and operate in the gift of prophecy.
The Hebrew word for prophecy “naba” means to flow forth, to bubble like a fountain, to let drop, to tumble forth, or to spring forth. That is exactly what prophecy does. It bubbles up and comes out of our mouth as we yield to the Holy Spirit.
The gift of prophecy, as we read in Romans 12: 6 (NIV), occurs according to the proportion of our faith. “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.”
We should prophesy only what we believe to be the Lord. No words should be added and no thoughts of our own included. Nor should we use our own convictions or our own purposes in prophecy. Jesus’ words were spirit and life. It is the Holy Spirit that gives life, so prophecies that do not produce or inspire life are words from the flesh or vain imaginations.
There are several types of prophecies recorded in the Scriptures. Patriarchal prophecies were given by the patriarchs as they laid hands on their children, prophesying their future by the gift of faith. The verses of Genesis 48: 9-21 show us one such example.
Here we read that Israel requested that Joseph bring his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to him that he might bless them in his old age. His eyes were failing, so Joseph brought the boys in very close to his father that he might see them as he prayed. Israel placed his right hand on Ephraim’s head and Joseph got upset, as Ephraim was not the first born. Refusing to change the placement of his hand or his prayer, Israel proceeded. Israel knew the blessing had to be spoken according to the will of God. Finishing the blessing, Israel prophetically instructed Joseph regarding his future destiny.
Prophecies of exhortation are Words that encourage others. Many years ago my husband and I were struggling financially. It looked like it would take forever to get out of debt. We were thinking we might even go into bankruptcy. A prophecy was given to us, telling us things were not as they seemed and would get better and better. The prophecy said that our part was to trust in the Lord with all our heart and not lean on our own understanding. That Word broke the power of fear, created trust, and enlarged our faith. We were definitely exhorted and encouraged by the spiritual gift of prophecy!
Messianic prophecies foretell the coming Messiah. For example, Psalm 2 foretells the establishment of the Kingdom of God. Psalm 16 and Psalm 22 tell of Christ’s death. Psalm 23 is a well-known psalm foretelling the Shepherd, and Psalm 45 tells us He is the Bridegroom. There are many Messianic prophecies throughout the Old Testament that have either been fulfilled in the New Testament, or are yet to be fulfilled in the days to come.
Some prophecies confirm thoughts or ideas we already are thinking. Personal prophecies, although controversial in some churches, are enjoyable and refreshing when they give us a sense that God is watching over us. An example that illustrates this happened to my daughter and her husband. Years ago they had started a ministry for street children in Kampala, Uganda. With this undertaking, they had many financial needs and concerns to feed, clothe, house, and educate the forty boys under their care at that time.
They were also very concerned about their family car and were getting quite discouraged over all the other personal financial needs they were experiencing. Yet earlier they had received a prophetic Word that God was going to give them a vehicle, specifically an SUV.
Reminded of the personal prophecy regarding that vehicle, my daughter began standing on the promise of the prophetic Word. She started to call that car in by faith. Within three months, she and her husband were driving an SUV. It was a beautiful gift foretold by a prophecy promised!
Once I received a personal prophecy from an evangelist that I was never to give up in ministry, no matter what trials I experienced. The prophetic Word specifically told me to “keep driving the bus.” That Word has kept me pressing on for many years. Whenever I feel weighed down or weary, I just remind myself to “keep driving the bus.” It always brings me refreshment and strength to continue pressing on to the mark of my high calling in Christ Jesus!
Mothers of Nations, how should we judge the gift of prophecy? We must determine several things. Does the Word draw us closer to Jesus, or does it only build our own ego? Does it agree with Scripture? Does it come to pass? Does our spirit bear witness to it? Is there liberty, peace, or fruit of the Spirit in the prophecy?
The Bible tells us in Jeremiah 29: 8-9 (NIV) that Jeremiah had a Word from the Lord, a prophecy he should give to the people. “Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. They are prophesying lies to you in My name. I have not sent them,’ declares the Lord.”
Because Jeremiah had faced much persecution, he tried to withhold the prophecy. He was living in a difficult period of time when no one wanted to hear a prophecy from God! But the more Jeremiah suppressed the Word, the more fire he felt in his bones. Finally he could not withhold the Word any longer and he spoke it.
1 Thessalonians 5: 19-22 (NIV) explicitly tells us not to quench the Spirit and not to despise prophesying. “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.”
Even though false prophecies or false prophets may have affected our lives in the past, God does not want us to stop trusting or to refuse the gift of prophecy. God desires that we receive the prophetic Word and learn to discern the true and the false. Mothers of Nations, prophecy is a spiritual gift we should all desire.
Dr. Sharon Predovich
