Pursuing the Gift of Prophecy预览

Day 1 - What is Prophecy?

In1 Corinthians 14:1, the Bible tells us, “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.” (NKJV)

God has called us to pursue love, understanding, and growth in the gifts (plural) of the Spirit, especially the gift of prophecy. It all starts with us knowing how loved we are. (more on this later)

But what is prophecy?

Is it some charismatic preacher yelling, “Thus saith the Lord?” Is it a gift God downloaded to only a few select strangely gifted people? Or, is it a gift we all are called to pursue, learn and grow in because of its importance and power to extend God's Kingdom on earth?

First, if God is calling us to pursue the gifts (plural), especially prophecy, wouldn’t that mean that this gift is available to His sons and daughters? The Bible tells us that those who knock on the door will have it opened for them. Matthew 7: 7-9 says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what person is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf of bread, will give him a stone?” (NKJV)

When we understand the important role that prophecy plays in extending God’s Kingdom and the powerful tool that it is to draw people into intimacy with their Father, we begin to desire this gift’s activity in our walk with Jesus.

Let’s look at exactly what prophecy is. The Greek word for prophecy is prophéteuó: to foretell, tell forth, prophesy. When we prophesy, we are foretelling, sort of like a spiritual forecast of what God is showing us that He is going to do. This is so we can partner with His plans in prayer, prepare ourselves for what He is doing, and align ourselves with His plans and purposes.

The other part is called forth-telling. This means God’s plans are set into motion once He speaks those plans through us. Try looking at it like a General in an army; when the General speaks out the plans that He is directing the army to do, those plans are then put into motion.

Prayer

God, I ask that you would use my life to bring heaven to earth through the gifts of the Spirit. And I ask that you show me how to grow in the gift of prophecy per your word.