Exploring the Prophetic
Revelations 19:5-10 5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying: "Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both small and great!" 6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. 8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) 9 Then the angel said to me, "Write: ’Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’" And he added, "These are the true words of God." 10 At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
“A truly prophetic voice is one who has the courage, perhaps even in some sense the calling of God, to look around at the community of faith in its status quo and say, "Not everyone who says ’Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven." A prophetic voice is one who calls God’s people to return to their calling as His people. A prophetic voice is one that will not settle for the status quo, not for the sake of stability, or security, or comfort, or even for the sake of conserving the tradition. A truly prophetic voice is a radical voice, a liberal voice that calls for change, even if that change is a return to a vital tradition long obscured by false piety and self-righteousness.”
“A prophetic voice will not gloss over injustice or oppression, will not be silent in the face of bigotry or prejudice or false pride, and will not compromise faithfulness for practical ends no matter how noble those ends may be in themselves. A truly prophetic voice is one that will sweep away all the trappings of religion and simply ask, "What does God require?", and answer simply, "do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with God." Or simply "love God, love others." A prophetic voice is one that will settle for nothing less than holiness of heart and life as the result of faithful obedience to the voice of God. In a real sense, a prophetic voice even today is the voice of God.”
CRI/Voice Institute
I. Overview of Prophecy
a. The gift of prophecy is the ability to know and comprehend the mind and heart of God on specific matters at a specific time.
b. It is the Spirit of God communicating with your spirit. Your spirit then communicates with your soul through your intellect, imagination, and emotions.
c. Old Testament prophets were the voice of God to a nation and its rulers. New Testament prophets are the voice of God to his church.
d. Old Testament prophets declared new truth to guide Israel. New Testament prophets validate truth to defend the will of God in the church.
e. Old Testament prophets were governed by the order of the prophets. New Testament prophets are governed by the church’s witness, especially the witness of other prophets.
f. It originates from God and confirms the truth (1 Corithians 14:36 Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? 37 If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command. 38 If he ignores this, he himself will be ignored. 39 Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.)
g. It looks for God’s view not our own (2 Peter 1: 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. 21 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.)
h. It is used at times to warn believers (Acts 21:10 After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, "The Holy Spirit says, ’In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’")
i. It is grouped with wisdom, understanding, and knowledge (1 Corithians 13:2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing., 1 Corinthians 14:16 Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction?)
j. It was created for the Church, not the world (I Corinthians 14:22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.)
k. It is an important part of growing the church (1 Corithians 14:1-5 1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. 2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. 3 But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. 4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified)
II. Let’s Prophesy!
a. Step One: Hear from God
i. Through Prayer
ii. Through the Word
iii. Through Wisdom and Understanding
iv. Through Fellowship
b. Step Two: Experience the Witness of God
i. As you share your faith
ii. As you encourage others
iii. As you are there for others
c. Step Three: Begin to Discern the Truth
i. Compare the World around you to God’s Word
ii. Compare what you hear to God’s voice
iii. Compare what you see to what faith reveals
d. Step Four: Begin to Speak About What You Observe
i. Think out loud
ii. Grow in confidence and humility
iii. Be slow to attribute your words to God
iv. Observe problems, prophesy solutions
v. Submit to others with the same gift
vi. Seek the acknowledgement of your gift through the laying on of hands from your spiritual elders
