You can Prophesy!

My church will be conducting a Prophetic Activation session this Sunday. Therefore, I think it might be apt for me to support what we're doing with some Bible verses (for your encouragement and my edification).

So, what is prophesying? Prophesy in Greek means to bring forth, to foretell or to tell forth (many mistake it to be just foretelling). When we prophesy, we are uttering God's message. So in other words, we become God's spokesperson or mouthpiece. 

The author of Acts quoted Prophet Joel:

"And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,

That I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

Your young men shall see visions,

Your old men shall dream dreams,

And on My menservants and on My maidservants

I will pour out My Spirit in those days,

And they shall prophesy."

(Acts 2:17-18)

The gift of prophecy is one of the nine gifts of the Spirit:

"But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit (1), to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit (2), to another faith by the same Spirit (3),  to another gifts of healing by the same Spirit (4), to another the working of miracles (5), to another prophecy (6), to another discerning of spirits (7), to another different kinds of tongues (8), to another the interpretation of tongues (9). But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills."

(1 Corinthians 12:7-11)

And Apostle Paul says that ALL can prophesy:

"For you all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged."

(1 Corinthians 14:31)

The gift of prophecy has a threefold purpose:

"But he who prophesies speaks edification (1) and exhortation (2) and comfort (3) to men"

(1 Corinthians 14:3)

Apostle Paul encourages us to seek the gift of prophesy:

"Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy."

(1 Corinthians 14:1)

"Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbit speaking in tongues."

(1 Corinthians 14:39)

"I wish you all spoke in 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 14:5)



Importantly, all genuine prophecies must testify and honour Jesus:

"For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

(Revelations 19:10)

I think it is good to note that anyone can prophesy, but not everyone is called to be a prophet.There is a difference to being called to the office of a prophet (being in ministry); the intensity, frequency and burden bearing of a person being called to be a prophet is much higher.

Well, this Sunday's session will be my third with my church-mates (I attended a 5-day Prophetic Activation workshop in Kota Kinabalu with Arise Malaysia earlier in March this year and will be going for the third module in a few weeks' time). We will be activating first timers and continue to stir up the gift in others. I am praying that God will use me as His willing vessel to convey His thoughts to the recipients there and I hope to receive some powerful messages too!

"How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!

How great is the sum of them!

If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;

When I awake, I am still with you."

(Psalm 139:17-18)