THE PURPOSE OF THE PROPHETIC
The main purpose of prophecy is to encourage and edify the body of Christ. By means of a prophetic Word, believers can be assured how much God loves them and how valuable they are to Him. This will certainly bring them closer to the Lord.
He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 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. - 1 Corinthians 14:4-5
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant…But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all…But earnestly desire the best gifts. - 1 Corinthians 12:1,7,31
God wants us to desire prophecy so that we can be instrumental in building up the body of believers.
One of the purposes of the prophetic ministry is to bring the body of Christ to a place of maturity. God wants to pour out His Spirit on all believers so that we can prophesy His Word. When we do this, multitudes of people will come to know Jesus as Savior.
God is busy raising up an end-time prophetic generation. He wants us to become a prophetic people who hear His voice, and proclaim His living Word to others. When we do this, people will be encouraged, comforted, and set free.
In the last days, the Spirit of prophecy will be on all groups of people. The miracle of Pentecost was that the Holy Spirit was poured out upon all believers and was received by every child of God. Joel foretold of the Spirit being poured out upon every significant division of human kind and that they would prophecy whether through the spoken Word or through visions and dreams.
* Men and women will prophecy
* The young and old will prophecy
* People of every race group will prophecy
* People of every social class will prophecy
The gifts and ministries of the Holy Spirit are all intended to build the church in unity and love for Christ. Prophecy is one of the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit, given by God to the church for:
* Edification - to build up
* Exhortation - to stir up
* Comfort - to cheer up
* Redemption – to redeem
* Direction – to lead
Prophetic words bring life. We can speak prophetically to dead and hopeless situations and release life.
He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions. - Psalm 107:20
Although prophecy is often used by God to speak concerning actual events which are past, present, and future, this is not its primary purpose.
Prophecy is primarily to reveal the heart, mind, nature, and especially the love of God towards His people, and also to those who do not yet know Him.
Prophecy can also bring direction, correction, and even rebuke, but this is usually brought by a proven prophet.
It is vital for us to remember that God is far more ready to speak to us than we are ready to listen to Him when He does speak.
The prophet's specific purpose is to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, just as John the Baptist did. We are living in the last days and God is raising up His prophets and His prophetic people to declare the word of the Lord in the times in which we are living.
Prophets are called as one of the five-fold offices for equipping the saints to do the work of the ministry.
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. - Ephesians. 4: 11-12
One of the main functions of the prophet is to equip the saints for the work of ministry. To fulfill this function the prophet needs to help Christians identify their gifts and ministries.
