Here’s a big
question: What is prophecy?
Until I came
on the World Race, my idea of what prophecy is was rather limited. I thought
prophecy was simply revelations from God about the future, and that it was an
extremely rare spiritual gift. But my view is changing – and it’s changing
quite drastically. I am experiencing things this year that throws my previous
definition out the window, and making me realize how little I truly understand
about spiritual gifts, and about my Father.
So, what is
prophecy?
For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but
men spoke from God as they
were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
2 Peter 1:20
But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their
strengthening, encouragement and comfort.
1 Corinthians 14:3
These verses
suggest that prophecy is not only speaking of the future but is simply any word
from God. It happens when a person is listening to what the Holy Spirit has to
say, and will speak out what they hear. It is so much broader than the Old
Testament understanding of foreshadowing the end of the world. Prophecy is
hearing from God. It brings strength, encouragement and comfort to the body of
Christ.
This sounds
pretty great, right? I mean, who wouldn’t want to hear from God something that
would bring encouragement to a brother or sister? But too bad I’ll never
experience that. Right? Wrong! Once I realized that my definition of prophecy
was wrong, I wanted to hear from God in that way but didn’t believe I could. But
then someone shared this verse with me:
For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be
instructed and encouraged.
1 Corinthians 14: 31
For you can
ALL prophesy in turn. ALL. All of us. We can all hear from God. I have always
believed that God speaks, you just need to learn to recognize his voice. But if
God is speaking to me, why wouldn’t He speak to me and give me words for
someone else? And the Bible says that we can ALL prophesy.
But if we
can all prophesy, why don’t we?
When then shall we say, brothers? When you come together,
everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an
interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.
1 Corinthians 14: 26
Why have the
majority of churches in North America stopped listening for prophecy? Why is it
not a part of our everyday lives? I honestly don’t know that answer to that.
I’ve heard a lot of suggestions over the last couple of months as my squad have
been discussing prophecy. Most of the explanations center around that North
America has gone away from the spiritual. If something is not able to be
demonstrated, or proven with logic, then it is shied away from. But prophecy is
from the Holy Spirit. If we are suppressing the spiritual, then we are limiting
the Holy Spirit in our churches.
Limiting the
Holy Spirit is never our intentions. But so often are we scared of what happens
if we hand over complete control over our lives that we don’t give the Holy
Spirit room to work. We are so focused on keeping everything running smoothly
that we don’t hear His voice. I have been guilty of it my entire life.
But then I
came on the World Race. I have given up control over everything in my life.
Usually I don’t know what city I will be living in for the next month until a
day or two before I get there – and that’s only because we have to know what
bus to catch! I am never alone, never have my own space, can never choose
what’s for dinner. The things I have taken for granted my entire life (for
example, a couch!) are stripped from me, and I am so far out of my comfort
zone. But I am also hearing God’s voice more than ever before. More often, and
more clearly. And prophecy, which I thought was so far beyond my reach, has
become a part of my life.
More than
once I have been looking at someone across a room and suddenly I am thinking of
a word. And I cannot stop thinking about this word, or rather it’s usually a
whole thought process, until I have gone over to that person and told them
about it. Whatever I have to tell them doesn’t always make sense to me, and
sometimes it doesn’t always make sense to that person right away. And usually I
feel ridiculous starting a conversation with “God told me to tell you…”. It
is still extremely uncomfortable for me. But I’m working on it. I’m practicing.
Because guess what? That’s prophecy.
(Stay Tuned for Part 2!)
