THE SCRIPTURAL PURPOSES OF THE SIMPLE GIFT OF PROPHECY!

Today we want to look at “THE SCRIPTURAL PURPOSES OF THE SIMPLE GIFT OF PROPHECY!”

In 1 Corinthians 14:1-5 the Scriptures say, “Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. 2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to EDIFICATION, and EXHORTATION, and COMFORT…”

What then are the scriptural purposes of the simple gift of prophecy? The simple gift of prophecy is given:

1. To speak to men supernaturally. The simple gift of prophecy is supernatural utterance.

1 Corinthians 14:3 says, “But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men…”

2. To edify the Church. “… he that prophesieth edifieth the Church” ((1 Cor. 14:4).

If you speak in tongues publicly and interpret it, the Church is edified because the congregation knows what you have said. But if you speak in tongues only, it would edify you alone, and it would not edify the others present because they would not know what you have said. But if you interpret what you have said in tongues, others would be edified.

What is the word edification talking about? The word “edification” is not talking about mental or physical edification. It is talking about a spiritual edification, and it is available to every single believer.

When you regularly study your Chemistry, you build up yourself in Chemistry. That is mental edification. When you regularly do weight lifting, you build up your muscles. That is physical edification. But when you regularly speak in tongues, you build up yourself spiritually. That is spiritual edification.

To edify means to build oneself up. In Greek, “to edify” means to “charge.” Charging is often used in connection with battery. If the battery of your car runs down, you hook it up to a power source and charge it. In order words, you build up the battery until it has the power to do what it is meant to do.

What do you do when you are spiritually dry? When you are spiritually dry, all you need to do is to hook up to the Holy Ghost (the power source) by praying in tongues.

Prophesying is a dynamic means of spiritual edification that works for the Church! Therefore, if the spiritual battery of your congregation runs down, you can get it charged by prophesying. How do you do this? Just declare to them what God has said about them in His Word.

As you prophesy, you are charging up the congregation like a battery. As you prophesy, you charge up the Church by the power of the Holy Spirit. Prophesying charges up and strengthens the Church.

The simple gift of prophecy helps the individuals in the Church to receive might in their inner man. It empowers the Church spiritually (Eph. 3:14-16).  

The Bible says, “He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself.”

He builds himself up. He “charges” himself like a battery. Thus we see the need for Spirit-filled believers to pray much in tongues in their private prayer life. It edifies them. It charges them. It builds them up spiritually.

Jude 20 says, “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.”

But, when we come together as a body [as a Church], we are coming together to be edified: “He that prophesieth, edifieth the Church.”

Thus, prophecy is given to edify the Church; to build it up spiritually; to charge the Church with supernatural power like a battery.

3. To exhort the Church. The gift of prophecy is also given to edify the Church through exhortation.

1 Corinthians 14:3 says, “But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and EXHORTATION, and comfort.”

What does it mean to exhort. To exhort means to strongly and earnestly encourage somebody to do something.

In Greek, the word “exhort” in First Corinthians 14:3 means “a calling nearer to God or an invitation.”

4. To Comfort the Church. God wants to comfort His children that are hurting or mourning.

God wants to bring comfort to the wounded. He wants to bring comfort to the one in pain.

What does it mean to comfort? To comfort means to relief somebody from pain or anxiety. That is what God does through the gift of prophecy (1 Cor. 14:3; Isa. 61:1-3; Matt. 11:28-30).

A genuine simple gift of prophecy should:

• Build the people up, not tear them down.
• Call the people closer to God, and not drive them away from God.
• Relieve them from pain, and not bring pain to them.
• Help the people to become better Christians.

5. To convict the unbeliever and to make manifest the secrets of his heart (1 Cor. 14:23-25).

“…he that is unlearned…” refers to those who are unlearned in spiritual things. It refers to spiritual illiterates. It refers to unbelievers.

If there comes such a person into your Church, and he hears the secrets of his heart revealed through the simple gift of prophecy manifesting through one of the members of the Church, he will be convicted and will certainly turn to Christ for salvation.

The simple gift of prophecy therefore, ministers edification, exhortation and comfort. In other words, the simple gift of prophecy improves your knowledge about God, calls you closer to God, and relieves you from pain or anxiety.

6. Prophecy can also be used in one’s prayer life. Praying in tongues is a springboard to go into prophecy in prayer. Prophecy is inspired utterance. For instance, in the Book of Psalms, prophecy was used in prayer and praise to God. The whole Book of Psalms was given by the Spirit of prophecy. The Psalms were Israel’s prayer and songbook. Some of the Psalms were prayers that were given by inspired utterance.

Prophecy is used in the believer’s prayer life in the New Testament too. Ephesians 5:19-20 says, “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

That is the gift of prophecy in operation.

1 Thessalonians 5:20 says, “Despise not prophesyings.”

You despise the simple gift of prophecy when you misuse it.

How do you misuse this gift? You misuse it when you try to regulate people’s lives or get them to do what you want through the gift of prophecy.

So we see why Paul said to the members of the Church at Corinth, and to Christians everywhere, to covet to prophesy, for in this way they can talk to God supernaturally, and to themselves in a known language.

Begin to covet to prophesy because the Word of God encourages believers to do so (1 Cor. 12:31). As you do, then you will be able to speak supernaturally to the Body of Christ God’s Words of edification, exhortation, and comfort as the Spirit wills. You will also be able to speak supernaturally through the gift of prophecy in your private prayer life, edifying yourself and worshipping God in Psalms, Hymns, and spiritual songs.

Watch out for the next edition of Good News from the Pulpit!

• Your friend: I. I. MADUBUNYI (Senior Pastor)               16.09. 2018

Promise of God: “God will undo all that afflict you and give you fame instead of shame” (Zeph. 3:19-20).