1 Corinthians 14:1–3 (ESV): Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.

Friends, both of these spiritual gifts referenced in the passage above are necessary in your life. We are addressing prophecy in these devotionals, but I want you to do what the Apostle Paul tells you to do – earnestly desire spiritual gifts. He says above all of the other gifts, want to have the capacity to prophesy.

Before we go on, what do you do with his assertion that you ought to want to prophesy? Have you ever looked into it? Do you know much about it?

Here is another important question, do you understand the difference that the Bible teaches between Old Testament prophecy and New Testament prophecy? Yes, the Bible is very clear about the differences.

Several devotions ago I wrote about this to you, and I want to revisit briefly the difference because it is important that you clearly understand that prophecy is for everyone and you should lean in and learn more about it.

I hope you have this thought… “Why didn’t someone tell me about this sooner? Or, “Why am I just now pressing into this area of spirituality?” Well, however you got here, let’s keep going…shall we?

Because there was no written word of God in the Old Testament, God used specially hand picked men to speak His word to the people of Israel. These men were very few. Only a handful of people were ever called Prophets – and as I showed you four devotionals ago, there were severe consequences for the Prophet who misspoke. The role or job of the prophet was to point people back to the law that God laid out before the people to follow.

Often there was a blessing for following the law or a punishment for disregarding the law. There was also revelation of who God is and the introducing of types of Jesus found in the Old Testament painting pictures for us of who Jesus is.

An old Bible teacher used to say, “Inside the Old Testament the New Testament is concealed. Inside the New Testament the Old Testament is revealed.” The prophetic was absolutely essential in the Old Testament, this was precisely how God communicated to His people.

New Testament prophecy is very different. And the reason I am writing you on this specific topic is because some people who prophesy today and some people who are trying to figure out what New Testament prophecy is, are looking at it through the lens of the Old Testament.

Sometimes we are placing the rigid expectations of power and consequence on the gift and it messes it up bad.  Paul clearly lays out the purpose behind NT prophecy. So I am going to help us all to see it for what it is.

1 Corinthians 14:1–3 (ESV): Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.

1. Only a handful of people were chosen by the Lord to speak for Him in the Old Testament. And yet, Paul inspired by the Holy Spirit commands that everyone…everyone in our day prophesy.
2. In the OT, you didn’t want it, God told you to do it. Contrast that with Paul telling everyone…everyone to want it.   

2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.

1. In the OT, God’s words spoken through a Prophet often had a very dark and dreadful side as the consequences of sin or rebellion were spoken before it happened. Paul gives no room for this in NT prophecy. There is no further punishment for sin beyond what Jesus experienced on our behalf at the cross. That is why when you read these three descriptive word (upbuilding, encouragement, consolation) there is no penalty, punishment or alienation like you find in the OT.
2. Upbuilding: God no longer tears people down except to build them up higher than they were before. Prophecy aids in that process. So, NT prophecy points to the maturing of a believer. And to the maturing of the local church. And to the maturing of regions as we press on to reach the full measure of the stature of Christ as the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:13).
3. Encouragement: To encourage a person is to point them on toward a goal. Prophecy helps as a clearer picture from the Holy Spirit is verbally painted for a person or ministry. I find this so exciting. I call this elevated sight. Think of walking down a road and you are simply staring at your feet. As your eyes come up you are able to see more and to take in the beauty and dangers around you, so you adjust accordingly.
4. Consolation: I find this to be one of the most beautiful aspects of the gift of prophecy. To comfort someone who has experienced hard knocks. To join someone in their sorrow is one of the most powerful things you could ever do for them. Few do it, few do it well, however – in the NT prophetic arsenal this is a Holy Spirit ability available to us.

Galatians 5:22–23 (ESV): But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

1. When a person prophesies, these nine aspects of the Holy Spirit come through the words spoken. But what I want you to realize is this phrase at the end of the verse. Do you see it… “against such there is no law.”
2. The Old Testament system that held the Prophet in a rigid standard of perfection is gone. We shouldn’t try to but, we can get it wrong without the penalty of death.

1 Corinthians 14:29 (ESV): Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.

1. Because the NT individual who prophesies has the potential to get it wrong without severe consequences, the Holy Spirit put up safeguards. Here is the rule of thumb, when prophecy happens make sure there are others who sift it for truth and competence.
2. We are to have in the local church sifters of prophetic words, so that people who operate like an Old Testament Prophet are stopped in their tracks.

Here are a few signs that you may be operating in an out dated, Old Testament type of prophecy that will hurt people.

1. You feel as though the only person you answer to is God.
2. You do not submit to local church authority for the sifting of your prophecy or for your personal upbuilding in the area of prophetic development.
3. You use phrases like… “Thus saith the Lord…” “The word of the Lord came to me…” “God told me to tell you…”. These phrases and others like them come from an outdated and impotent system that Jesus came to abolish…so don’t use them.

I personally throw into the trash can or delete any word from anyone who does not submit to local authority and I hope you do too. People who operate outside the authority of the local church are false prophets – the New Testament was full of them and warning was given concerning their workings in the church.

Bottom line, Paul said to pursue prophecy. Let’s step on in and develop in the prophetic gift so that the church will be mature.

Father, thank You for the gift of prophecy. Thank You for the great benefit it is to the body of Christ. I thank You so much for the people through the years who have ministered to my soul through this gift. I pray today that others would experience the blessings of this wonderful gift You placed in the church. Thank You Jesus for bringing this gifts to earth through Your suffering.

Blessings

Pastor D