THE UTTERANCE, VOCAL OR INSPIRATIONAL GIFTS!

Last Sunday, we concluded our discussions on the Power Gifts. 

Today we shall focus on another aspect of UNDERSTANDING THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – “THE UTTERANCE GIFTS!”

In 1 Corinthians 12:1, 7-11 the Scriptures say, “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

10 To another the working of miracles; TO ANOTHER PROPHECY; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

11 But all these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He wills” (1 Cor. 12:7-11).

What are utterance gifts? Utterance gifts are spiritual gifts that say something. Utterance gifts are supernatural manifestations of the Holy Spirit whereby some believers are empowered with the ability to supernaturally convey God’s message for the moment in the language of the speaker and hearers. They include:

• The gift of Prophecy (1 Cor. 14:1-5, 14:3),
• The gift of Diverse Kinds of Tongues,
• The gift of Interpretation of Tongues.

Today, we are going to focus on the greatest of the three utterance gifts, the gift of prophecy (1 Cor. 12:7-10).

The gift of prophecy is a specific gift mentioned among the 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12.

“…to another prophecy…to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues” (1 Cor. 12:10).

Of the three gifts of utterance, prophecy is the most important. Why is it so? This is because it takes the other two inspirational gifts – diverse kinds of tongues and interpretation of tongues to equal this one gift. The gift of prophecy does not need another gift to complete it.

The Bible says, “…greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues except he interprets…” (1 Cor. 14:5).

This infers that to speak with tongues and to interpret the tongues is equivalent to prophecy.

To gain a proper understanding of the gift of prophecy, we will consider the following:

• What is prophecy?
• What are the different types of prophecy?
• What is the relationship between the gift of prophecy and the office of a prophet?
• What are the scriptural purposes of the simple gift of prophecy?
• How can prophecy be judged?

What then is the gift of prophecy?

1. The gift of prophecy is a supernatural utterance in a known tongue or language. Diverse kinds of tongues is supernatural utterance in an unknown language.

Interpretation of tongues is a supernatural showing forth of that which has been said in an unknown language.

2. The gift of prophecy is like the gift of diverse kinds of tongues and the interpretation of tongues put together.

3. The gift of prophecy is the ability to supernaturally convey God’s message for the moment in the language of the speaker and hearers.

The simple gift of prophecy is used to convey the message of edification, exhortation and comfort to God’s people at specific times.

Prophecy can be the vehicle through which other gifts flow. For instance it can be the vehicle through which the Word of Wisdom comes. The Old Testament prophets had to have the Word of Wisdom in manifestation in their ministries to be able to stand in the office of the prophet because they made predictions concerning the future.

The simple gift of prophecy does not include with it the element of predicting or fore-seeing into the future. The prediction the Old Testament prophets gave, even though it came by prophecy, was actually a Word of Wisdom in operation because they were predicting the future.

Sometimes the Word of Wisdom is conveyed through the vehicle of prophecy, but it isn’t really prophecy in and of itself. There is no element of predicting or foretelling in the simple gift of prophecy (1 Cor. 14:3). Therefore, you can confidently tell when an utterance is no longer a simple gift of prophecy in operation because it will include some revelation in it.

The Greek word that is translated “prophecy” means to speak for another. So prophecy could mean “to speak for God or to be His spokesman.”

1 Corinthians 14:1-5 says, “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.”

The Scriptures encourage us to covet or earnestly desire the best gifts. 1 Corinthians 12:31 says, “But covet earnestly the best gifts…” 

The Epistles of First Corinthians is not a letter written to just one person; it is a letter written to the entire Church at Corinth, as well as the Church – the Body of Christ – in our day. So these verses do not apply to an individual person. Rather Apostle Paul was telling the entire Church to covet or earnestly desire spiritual gifts.

Therefore, the Scripture is not asking you as an individual to desire the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit because no individual can have all the gifts. Rather the Bible is encouraging the entire body of Born Again believers in a local assembly to earnestly desire the best gifts. If an entire local body of believers will covet the gifts of the Spirit, the Holy Spirit will divide to everyone in that assembly as He wills – not as I will, not as you will, but as the Spirit wills (determines, decides) (1 Cor. 12:11).

In 1 Corinthians 14:1 we are told to desire spiritual gifts, but especially that we may prophesy.1 Corinthians 14:1 says, “Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.”

In 1 Corinthians 14:5 Paul said, “I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye PROPHESIED: for greater is he that PROPHESIETH than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.”

1 Corinthians 14:31 says that every one of us may prophesy. 1 Corinthians 14:31 says, “For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.”

In 1 Corinthians 14:39 Paul repeated, “Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.”

What are the different types of prophecy? There are three types of prophecy:

• Fore-telling the future,
• Forth-telling the Word of God, and
• Praising God.

Fore-telling is different from forth-telling. The simple gift of prophecy should not be confused with the prophetic office or with prophetic utterance that may come forth in the prophet’s ministry.

Fore-telling reveals the future. Forth telling tells the Word of God as it is.

Here is the difference: In the simple gift of prophecy, there is no revelation. The simple gift of prophecy is given for edification, exhortation [encouragement], and comfort (1 Cor. 14:3).

In the office of a prophet we discover that fore-telling or revelation does come forth, even through the vehicle of prophecy.

In the Old Testament prophecy is essentially fore-telling, but in the New Testament the gift of prophecy shifted strongly to forth-telling.

Prophesying is more than preaching. All inspired utterances is prophecy in some form or another, but the spiritual gift of prophecy isn’t preaching. Sometimes, there is an element of prophecy in preaching when a person is anointed by the Spirit and is inspired to say things spontaneously that come from his spirit-man rather than his head. But that is only one phase of the operation of the gift of prophecy.

Prophecy is inspired utterance. But in a specific sense prophecy is a supernatural gift that is manifested spontaneously as the Spirit wills.

To preach means to proclaim, to announce, to tell. Prophecy arrests people’s attention, but preaching the Word of God is what saves people.

Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs can come by the gift of prophecy (Eph. 5:18).

In Acts 13, the disciples ministered to the Lord. One of the ways they ministered unto the Lord maybe by singing and making melody in their hearts to the Lord.

Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs are not songs sang out of a songbook. They are songs given by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. A Psalm is “a spiritual poem or an ode.” It can be recited or chanted or sung.

Psalms and hymns come through the Spirit of prophecy as an inspired utterance, and therefore could also come through the vehicle of tongues and interpretation.

Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs given by the inspiration of the Spirit of God are a demonstration of the gift of prophecy or its equivalent tongues and interpretation of tongues in manifestation. These psalms, hymns and spiritual songs can be used to comfort someone in times of tests or trials.

An aspect of divine communication is to sing and make melody in our hearts by the Spirit to the Lord (1 Cor. 14:15; Col. 3:16 Eph. 5:18-19).

1 Corinthians 14:15 says, “What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.”

Paul says you can sing with your understanding (mind). You can also sing with your spirit-man.

Colossians 3:16 gives us additional information on the value of singing in tongues.

Colossians 3:16 says, “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts TO THE LORD.”

To whom do you sing? To the Lord. In many churches, most of the time, people are not singing to the Lord, but to one another in the local congregation.

Ephesians 5:18-19 tells us why we are to sing to the Lord:

Ephesians 5:18-19 says, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT; 19 SPEAKING to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, SINGING and making melody in your heart TO THE LORD.”

We get filled to overflowing by speaking and singing to ourselves and to God.

“…Be filled with the Spirit” – speaking and singing.

An aspect of divine communication is to sing and make melody in our hearts by the Spirit to the Lord. We see the spiritual value of this in Acts 16:25. Paul and Silas were in jail. Their backs were bleeding. Their feet were in stocks. But notice what they did at midnight hour when all looked dark around them. They prayed and sang praises unto God and this brought mighty Holy Ghost power on the scene (Acts 16:26).

What is the relationship between the gift of prophecy and the office of a prophet? There is a relationship between the gift of prophecy and the office of a prophet. The simple gift of prophecy has no revelation in it. Rather, it speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and comfort (1 Cor. 14:3); it is to edify the Church (1 Cor. 14:4).

For the fact that the simple gift of prophecy operates through you does not make you a prophet. For instance, In 1 Corinthians 14:1 Paul encourages the whole Church at Corinth to desire spiritual gifts especially to prophesy. Yet in 1 Corinthians 12:28, Paul said that all are not prophets. So, if prophecy made a person a prophet, then Paul would be contradicting himself.

A prophet would have more of the gifts of the Spirit in operation than just the gift of prophecy. He would have revelation gifts operating alongside with prophecy for the simple reason that Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14:29 and 30, “Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If anything be REVEALED to another that sitteth by [that is, another prophet], let the first hold his peace.”

Here, Paul is talking about revelation. “If anything be REVEALED…” (v. 30). Therefore, a prophet would have other revelation gifts operating in his ministry as well as the simple gift of prophecy.

To stand in the office of a prophet, a person needs to have at least two of the revelation gifts operating on a continual basis in his life and ministry, plus the simple gift of prophecy.

In other words, for a person to stand in the office of a prophet, he would need to be called to the five-fold ministry, as a preacher or a teacher of the Word of God (Eph. 4:11-12). He must also have two of the three revelation gifts – the Word of Wisdom, the Word of Knowledge or the discerning of spirits - plus the simple gift of prophecy operating consistently in his ministry.

We can all prophesy (1 Cor. 14:1, 5, 31, 39), but we can’t all be prophets.

1 Corinthians 14:1 says, “Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.”

1 Corinthians 14:5 says, “I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.”

1 Corinthians 14:31 says, “For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.”

1 Corinthians 14:39 says, “Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.”

Note however, that prophecy through the office of a prophet carries more authority than the simple gift of prophecy would if it operating through a laity.

Are there some examples of the simple gift of prophecy in the Bible? Yes! We have some New Testament examples of the simple gift of prophecy. In Acts 21:8-9 we see the scriptural illustration of some believers who had the simple gift of prophecy operating in their lives.

Acts 21:8-9 says, “Then we went on to Caesarea and stayed at the home of Philip the Evangelist, one of the seven men who had been chosen to distribute food. 9 He had four unmarried daughters who had the gift of prophecy” (NLT).

Philip’s daughters spoke to the whole community to edification, exhortation and comfort (1 Cor. 14:3). There was no element of revelation in their prophecy. They operated in the simple gift of prophecy.

Agabus is an example of a New Testament prophet who operated in the gift of prophecy. When prophet Agabus came, he had a message from the Holy Spirit, which brought revelation.

In Acts 21:10-11 Paul said, “And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain PROPHET, named Agabus. 11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.”

Here Agabus was not just manifesting the simple gift of prophecy. Rather, he had a specific message from the Holy Ghost. He had a message that had some revelation concerning the future in it – the Word of Wisdom. However no definite direction was given to Paul in this message in the sense that Agabus didn’t tell Paul to go or not to go to Jerusalem. That decision was solely left up to Paul. Agabus told Paul what was just going to happen in the near future should he go to Jerusalem.

The simple gift of prophecy is not prediction (foretelling), but is speaking unto men “….to edification, and exhortation, and comfort” (1 Cor. 14:3). To exhort means to urge somebody strongly and earnestly (to encourage somebody) to do something.

Sometimes, the revelation given forth in a prophet’s ministry may be discomforting because it brings with it rebuke, correction or conviction of sin.

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 worshiping 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)                02.09. 2018

Promise of God: “God will undo all that afflict you and give you fame instead of shame” (Zeph. 3:19-20). “The LORD will fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouts of joy” (Job 8:21).