Today we are going to study the prophetic. Why are we going to talk about this? Quite simply because the Bible does. In fact, in the bible, some scholars estimate that around 1/4 of the scriptures is prophetic. Entire books of the Bible were written by prophets. Other books are prophetic, even though they were written by people like John who was an apostle. And while some people are content with just studying the prophetic as a topic, we want to look at it as a spiritual gifting.
“We have no lack of preachers of prophecy, but we are pitiably short of prophetic preachers.” —Leonard Ravenhill
My desire is simple. I want to make a case today. And this is my case, that the church of today is in dire need of people who will prophesy and proclaim message of Jesus to a lost and dying world and that the church would build up one another to a stronger relationship with God. The main point is this - God desires for us to prophesy and our desire should be to prophesy.
God’s Desire Is For All To Be
I believe that God, since early on in Scripture has desired for all of his people to hear his voice and prophesy.
“So Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord. And he gathered seventy men of the elders of the people and placed them around the tent. Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. And as soon as the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied. But they did not continue doing it. Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” And Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, “My lord Moses, stop them.” But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!” —Numbers 11:24-29
One of the main
To prophesy, according to theologian Wayne Grudem, means to speak “something that God has spontaneously brought to mind”. In other words, God speaks something to you or shows you something and you share it.
Moses gets a glimpse of God’s heart and actually prophesies right here in our passage. He says, I would that all of God’s people were prophets, that God would put his Spirit on all of them!
Now, how do I know that Moses was speaking God’s heart? Because God does this very thing. In fact, Moses isn’t the only one to say this. The Prophet Joel says this exact thing in chapter 2 of his book.
“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.” —Joel 2:28-29
Follow this thought line into the New Testament and the start of the church. In Acts 2, Peter quotes this exact verse in his famous sermon at Pentecost. When the disciples are filled with the Spirit in Acts 2, he justifies it in verses 16-21 by quoting the prophet Joel and essentially saying, this is happening right now before your very eyes.
“And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” —Acts 2:38-39
Our
Should Be To Prophesy
Our desire, our longing should be to prophesy ourselves. It should be a burning desire within us.
“Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.” —1st Cor. 14:1-5
He says that the one who prophesies does these three things, which are of utmost importance in the church:
- Consolation or
God’s not looking to make people famous with prophecy, he’s looking to build up his church. To encourage them, to comfort them. He’s not looking to predict presidencies. He’s looking to give
“If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.” —1 Cor. 14:23-25
Ref: Revelation 19:10
Prophecy Should Be
, Not Despised
“Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good.” —1 Thessalonians 5:19-21