(This blog continues from where I left in my previous blog. This one makes more sense if you read that first.)
So, if
everyone is capable of prophecy, then is there still a spiritual gift of
prophecy?
Absolutely!
God speaks to all of his children, and when we speak that out for the
strengthening, encouragement and comfort of the body of Christ, that is
prophecy. But someone who has the spiritual gift will have these words and
visions more often, or in more detail, or will be more receptive to them.
Several
times on the World Race, my team has had prophecy nights. We gather around one
person a night for the purpose of prophesying over them until everyone has had
a turn to be prophesied over. We usually are there for more than half an hour
as God speaks through us, giving us words, songs and visions for the teammate.
Not everybody gets a word to share every time, but usually several different
people are speaking.
One of my
teammates, though, has been given the spiritual gift of prophecy. He always has
something to say in these sessions. God gives him extremely detailed visions in
which he can even feel everything that is going on in the vision. This teammate
has prophesied weddings, children, challenges, triumphs, and so many other
situations over people in our squad.
Many people
can invite people into their home and make their stay comfortable, but not
everyone has the gift of hospitality. Many people can say something to make
their friend feel better, but not everyone has the spiritual gift of words of
encouragement. We all have the potential to have prophecy, but some have been
given a special gift for it.
In the last days, God says
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
Acts 2: 17
I know for
that a lot of people at home what I am writing is new and a little unnerving.
Prophecy is not something we’ve spent a lot of time thinking or talking about.
To be completely honest the idea of prophecy used to scare me. We started
prophesying over each other at training camp in October and it has taken me
until now to be able to write a blog about it. And by no means do I have the
answers. This is all new to me and I am exploring. If you ask me again in a
week I might have different ideas than I do right now. In fact I hope I do
because that means I’m still learning and growing.
But this I
know for sure: all my life I put God in a box and limited Him by what I
believed He is capable of. But if I am open to change, open to experience Him
fully, without expectations, then crazy stuff can happen.
So, what do
you believe about prophecy? Are you open to explore it? Will you pray about it
and read about it? Are you willing to accept dreams, visions and words from God
and recognize them for what they are? Will you have the courage to speak those
out?
So, this is my challenge for you: try it. Speak out what’s
on your heart to encourage your brother or sister in Christ. You never know
what impact it could have.
