Pursuing the Gift of ProphecySample

Day 2 - How do we Prophesy?

1 Corinthians 14: 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. (NIV)

As we grow and learn how the Holy Spirit reveals Jesus through the gifts of the Spirit to the world around us, it’s important to understand how God desires us to function in this gift of prophecy. As stated in the New Testament, the specific purpose of prophecy is to strengthen, encourage, and comfort people. As our personal intimacy with the Holy Spirit grows, our words become more like His words, and as a result, the people around us encounter Him. And as we sink deeper into Christ's love for us, the more it flows out of us.

Proverbs 18:21 tells us, “The tongue has the power of life and death…”; in John 14:6, Jesus tells us, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” When we speak in accordance with God’s design, our words carry the power to release His life and set His plans into motion in people’s lives.

When the Apostle Paul was explaining this gift to the Corinthians, he made sure that they knew, “You can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted,” (1 Cor. 14:31). We are all called to pursue this gift and learn to operate in it as we speak God’s life-giving words. The goal of prophecy is for our words to release God’s power, love, and life into the lives of people around us. As we grow and learn, God uses us to put His plans into motion in the world around us.

As we grow and learn how to say what He is saying, we become “co-workers in God’s service” (1 Cor. 3:9) that extend His Kingdom on earth and draw people into deeper intimacy with Him. The world needs Godly encouragement, Godly comfort, and Godly strengthening, and as children of the Living God, we are called to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying about people and speak His words over them.

Prayer

God, I ask for eyes to see people the way you see them and ears to hear the comforting, encouraging, and strengthening life-filled words you want to speak to the world through me. Holy Spirit, I ask that You use my life to bring heaven to earth and transform people’s lives into more of Your image and likeness.