ALL CHRISTIANS CAN PROPHESY
ALL CAN PROPHESY
In this lesson we learn that it is God’s will that all should prophesy. “Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy” (1 Corinthians 14:1). The prophet is called into ministry by God’s sovereign will alone. Jesus Christ calls the fivefold ascension gift prophet, and prophecy is from the Holy Spirit. Not everyone is a prophet. Scripture specifically declares that God gave some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers. (See Ephesians 4:11.) However, everyone who is born again and baptized in the Holy Spirit can enter a measure of the prophetic dimension. Most people understand that the initial evidence of being baptized by the Holy Spirit is speaking in other tongues. Many Spirit-filled Christians, however, do not understand that when they are baptized in the Holy Spirit they are also empowered to prophesy. In fact, the realm of prophetic utterance should be as natural to the Spirit-filled believer as speaking in other tongues. The reason it is not is either because of a lack of Scriptural understanding and/or religious resistance.
SONS AND DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY
The Apostle Peter preached his first sermon just after leaving the Upper Room, where the Holy Spirit baptized him. In his sermon he spoke about the manifestation of the Holy Spirit that the people were seeing and hearing. He boldly declared, “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; and it shall come to pass in the last days, said God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy” (Acts 2:16-18). Notice how Apostle Peter connected the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to prophecy. Today, some have connected the outpouring of the Holy Spirit only with speaking in other tongues. Let’s look at another example.
PROPHETIC BELIEVERS IN EPHESUS When the Apostle Paul went to Ephesus he met 12 disciples who never heard about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They were bona fide believers, yet had never entered the supernatural realm of the Spirit of God; born again, but not filled with the Spirit. Paul first responded to their lack of understanding about the gift of the Holy Spirit, then, after a short teaching, laid his hands on them. The Holy Ghost filled them and the evidence was that they spoke in other tongues and prophesied. Let’s read what he said. “He said unto them, have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, we have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, unto what then were ye baptized? And ³ 19 they said, Unto John’s baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him, which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied” (Acts 19:2-6).
Notice that they were baptized in the Holy Ghost with the manifestation of speaking in other tongues and prophecy. There were no seminars, conferences or teaching materials provided for their prophetic development. Prophecy simply happened as a result of the baptism in the Holy Spirit. It is the same today. If you are born again, and filled with the Holy Spirit, you are positioned for prophecy.
CHILDREN PROPHESY • Joel 2:28-29; Psalm 8:2
WOMEN PROPHESY Women can prophesy and be prophets. Here are a few examples: •
Miriam (Exodus 15:20) •
Deborah (Judges 4:4) •
Huldah (2 Kings 22:14; 2 Chronicles 34:22) •
Isaiah’s wife (Isaiah 8:3) • Anna (Luke 2:36) •
Sons and daughters… men and women (Acts 2:17-18) •
Philips four daughters (Acts 21:9) •
Women in the Corinthian church (1 Corinthians 11:5) •
Jezebel (a false prophetess; Revelation 2:20)
PROPHETIC STUDIES DESIRE TO PROPHESY
The Word of God teaches us that we should desire to prophesy. Let’s take a closer look at this very revealing Scripture. “Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. 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. But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort” (1 Corinthians 14:1-3,
The word “desire” comes from the Greek word zeloo, meaning to “burn with zeal.” It is important to point out that it is unquestionably Scriptural for a believer to desire to prophesy. Notice the high level of significance that the Holy Spirit Himself places on prophecy. To desire also means… • wish for • long for • want • pursue strongly • possess a passion for • covet ³ • crave • can’t live without • unsatisfied without.
For every believer to desire (zeloo) to prophesy is completely Scriptural and emphasized by the Holy Spirit. • Moses validated prophecy for every believer. And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD’S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!” (Numbers 11:29, Emphasis added) •
Other Scriptures also encourage prophecy. “Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy” (1 Corinthians 14:1). “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 14:5). “Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues” (1 Corinthians 14:39).
The three most significant purposes of prophecy are edification, exhortation and comfort. “But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort” (1 Corinthians 14:3, Emphasis added). 1. The word “edification” comes from the Greek word oikodome, meaning “to build up, establish, strengthen, to make effective.” (See 1 Corinthians 14:3-4.)
2. The word “exhortation” comes from the Greek word paraklesis, meaning “a comforting encouragement provided in times of disappointment and affliction resulting in strengthening the resolve of the believer.” (See 2 Chronicles 5:8; 1 Corinthians 14:3; Acts 16:32.)
3. The word “comfort” comes from the Greek word paramuthia, meaning “to provide a freedom from worry during times of grief, affliction or distress and bringing assurance to the believer.” (See 1 Corinthians 14:3; Isaiah 40:1-2.) • Prophecy edifies both believers and the local church. (See 1 Corinthians 14:4, 12, 17, 19.)
RECAP
Not everyone is a prophet.
Everyone who is born again and baptized in the Holy Spirit can enter a measure of the prophetic dimension. (See 1 Corinthians 14:1; Romans 12:4.)
The realm of prophetic utterance should be as common in churches as speaking in other tongues.
Peter connected the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to prophecy.
When Paul laid his hands on the believers in Ephesus they spoke in other tongues and prophesied. (See Acts 19:2-6.)
The Word of God teaches us to desire to prophesy.
The word “edification” comes from the Greek word oikodome, meaning “to build up, establish, strengthen, to make effective.”
The word “exhortation” comes from the Greek word paraklesis, meaning “a comforting encouragement provided in times of disappointment and affliction resulting in strengthening the resolve of the believer.”
The word “comfort” comes from the Greek word paramuthia, meaning “to provide a freedom from worry during times of grief, affliction or distress and bringing assurance to the believer.”