The Purpose of the Prophetic
For many years, I was always a little troubled when I read 1 Corinthians 14:1, “Follow the way of love, and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy” (NIV). I had no problem wanting to follow the way of love or eagerly desire spiritual gifts, but prophecy? No thanks! You see, I had never seen the gift of prophecy in action. I had only heard tales of the prophetic used to condemn and control people. My understanding of a prophet was based on the Old Testament prophet of someone who did strange things, said hard things to Israel, and generally seemed unaccepted by the people around them. Many of you may have a similar idea or experience of the prophetic.
The New Testament teaching on prophecy and its application in the church is slightly different than that of the Old Testament prophet. Paul instructs the Corinthians in chapter 12 that the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to every believer and they are for the common good (v 7) as they work together as the Body (v 27).
There is a most excellent way in which these gifts are intended to be used:
in LOVE (1 Cor 13).
Paul then goes on to say that we should all desire the gift of prophecy (1 Cor 14:1) beyond the spiritual gifts that the Holy Spirit has equipped each believer with. This particular gift is available to every follower of Christ, regardless of age or gender. Why is this gift singled out as one that every believer should desire? I believe the answer is found in verse 3: “Everyone who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.” Prophecy, therefore, requires listening to God’s voice, discerning his message for another, and speaking it to them. There is a caveat found in verse 3: God’s perceived words, when accurately shared with humility and in love (remember chapter 13?), will always strengthen, encourage and comfort. The purpose of prophecy is to edify and build up the church (v 4). Not to control, condemn, or instill fear. When the prophetic is used in these ways, it is in direct opposition to Christ’s purpose and mandate to love and set people free (Luke 4:18–21; John 3:17; 2 Tim 1:7; 1 John 4:18).
Often, the use of the prophetic in some evangelical circles can feel a bit like the game of telephone, where God whispers something to someone, and by the time the message is given to God’s intended recipient, it has become warped in some way. Or perhaps you are trying to hear God’s voice for others, but it feels like the message is being communicated between two paper cups and a piece of string. This can feel frustrating and imprecise and can sometimes lead to prophetic wounding.
Perhaps you have experienced some wounds from someone’s improper use of the prophetic in your faith journey, and you need someone to process through those tender places in your story. We would love to hear your story as you explore the healing and renewal that Christ has purchased on your behalf. Click here to reach out to us.
Are you curious about how to grow in hearing God’s voice and eagerly desire the gift of prophecy? We often preach and teach on these topics (check out our upcoming events and previous blogs or preaching). We also offer extended teaching on hearing God’s voice in the retreats we offer: Life in the Spirit, Life of Prayer, Hearing God, and Renewal Bootcamp. We would love to have you join us at these retreats or have a conversation with your church about hosting one of these events.
Feel free to comment on our blog with any questions you may have about growing in the prophetic. Would you like to hear more blogs from us on this topic?
