429. Celebrating God's Grace, The Gift of Prophecy

The power of the Holy Spirit was poured out in the time of Acts 2. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we have been given the gift of prophecy. Prophecy edifies the body of Christ. Where is it that you need edification? Learn how the Holy Spirit gives us edification through prophecy.

*****

Welcome to Celebrating God’s Grace, A Women World Leader’s Podcast, I’m your host Robin Kirby-Gatto.

Thank you for joining us today as we celebrate God’s grace, in our lives, in our ministry, and around the world.

Today’s message is titled: The Gift of Prophecy

The apostle Paul, writer of most of the New Testament, urged the church to edify one another in the grace of God revealed in the gift of prophecy.

1 Eagerly pursue and seek to acquire [this] love [make it your aim, your great quest]; and earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual endowments (gifts), especially that you may prophesy (interpret the divine will and purpose in inspired preaching and teaching). 2 For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding]. 3 But [on the other hand], the one who prophesies [who interprets the divine will and purpose in inspired preaching and teaching] speaks to men for their upbuilding and constructive spiritual progress and encouragement and consolation. 4 He who speaks in a [strange] tongue edifies and improves himself, but he who prophesies [interpreting the divine will and purpose and teaching with inspiration] edifies and improves the church and promotes growth [in Christian wisdom, piety, holiness, and happiness]. 5 Now I wish that you might all speak in [unknown] tongues, but more especially [I want you] to prophesy (to be inspired to preach and interpret the divine will and purpose). He who prophesies [who is inspired to preach and teach] is greater (more useful and more important) than he who speaks in [unknown] tongues, unless he should interpret [what he says], so that the church may be edified and receive good [from it]. 1 Corinthians 14:1-5 AMPC

I will never forget the first time I experienced the beautiful gift of prophecy at a women’s prayer meeting. I had known the Lord and attended church since I was a little girl, but it wasn’t until 2003, in my mid-thirties that I witnessed an elderly woman prophesying over another sister-in-Christ. To me, it started out as a day of excitement and anticipation. I was hungry and thirsty for more of God and didn’t know what to expect at a prayer meeting, other than there would be a short teaching, which would then lead into a prayer.

Up to this point for a year-and-a-half, I had been reading the word of God hours a day and praying earnestly after each reading. God had to redeem the time in my life, as the power of Holy Spirit came on me Resurrection Sunday 2002, setting me free of alcoholism. My joy was full and made complete, as I experienced the washing of God’s Word, and the bounty of Living Waters in my belly.

It was then that I wanted to pour the abundant Life I possessed upon others but didn’t know how. I couldn’t put words to it, or never knew what “it” was that I was looking for.

The teaching at the meeting had ended, and the women began to pray. About ten minutes into prayer, I witnessed the gift of prophecy. My heart leapt with joy, as prayer and prophecy continued throughout. At the end of the meeting, I spontaneously erupted “WHAT WAS THAT?” The women explained that it was the gift of prophecy. Caught in the afterglow of such powerful prayer and prophecy, I then blurted, “I’VE BEEN LOOKING FOR THAT ALL OF MY LIFE!”

I didn’t know that this was the “it” I was looking for as a Christian. I’d known the Word of Truth for years, but somehow my eyes were covered from seeing 1 Corinthians 12 and 14 with the gifts of Holy Spirit.

I desired prophecy all my life as a Christian, how could I not.  All through high school I was a football cheerleader. It made my heart content, running up and down the field cheering the football players on, to win the game. I love edifying others, and to me, prophecy is cheerleading the saints.

The Greek word for gift is pneumatikós pronounced pnyoo-mat-ik-os meaning, “ethereal, supernatural, and spiritual.” [i] Ethereal means that which is beyond the clouds and is heavenly. The gifts of God came to mankind on Pentecost at the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, prophesied in Joel 2.

28 “And afterward I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. 29 Even upon the menservants and upon the maidservants in those days will I pour out My Spirit.” Joel 2:28-29 AMPC

The Holy Spirit, Who is at the Throne of God as seven torches of Fire, does not speak His own message, but only what the Father says. (See Revelation 4:5; John 16:13) Thus, this gift of prophecy is God’s grace by the Holy Spirit at operation inside of us, to speak edification according to the need.

Jesus teaches the disciples how to pray in Luke 11, saying “give us this day our daily bread.” (See Luke 11:3) Immediately after the Lord’s prayer, Jesus depicts what the bread represents. He describes a man who had need of bread, since he had visitors over at his house. He then goes to a friend’s house to ask for bread at midnight and knocks on his door. The friend tells him to leave because it was late, and his children were sleeping. That didn’t stop the guy from knocking on the door, and finally the friend got up and gave him as much as he “needed.” Jesus then goes on to explain that we are to keep asking, seeking, and knocking, and the Father will open the door to give us the gift of the Holy Spirit. (See Luke 11:5-13)

There are times in your life when you need a personal cheerleader, you need to be edified. Moreover, there are times that you will come across others who need to be edified. In such times, the Lord God supplies us with grace to ask, seek, and knock on the door and the gift of the Holy Spirit will be poured out to bring forth the edification needed in prophecy.

Prophecy in Greek is prophēteía pronounced prof-ay-ti'-ah meaning, “prophecy, prediction, and prophesying.” [ii] Prediction comes from the Latin word praedicere meaning “make known beforehand.” The Latin word for prediction is spelled P.R.A.E.D.I.C.E.R.E. As I saw the Latin word for prediction, I couldn’t help but see PRAED as PRAYED, and icere as I C (see). In John 16:13 Jesus states that the Holy Spirit will show us things to come. He will show us what to pray. Through prayer, we will feel a lifting in our heart, being filled with joy and excitement that God is up to something. By faith as we open our mouth and pray forth, we shall prophesy! This is the power of God’s grace in His beautiful gift of prophecy.

The gift of prophecy edifies. The word edify in Greek is oikodomḗ pronounced oy-kod-om-ay' meaning, “architecture, confirmation, building, edify, and edification.” [iii] Thus, edification builds people up, confirming what God has placed within them, defeating the powers of darkness that would assail them with lies.

A great analogy of this beautiful gift and what takes place in the invisible realm is in Song of Solomon 6.

12 “Before I was aware [of what was happening], my desire [to roam about] had brought me into the area of the princes of my people [the king’s retinue]. 13 [I began to flee, but they called to me] Return, return, O Shulammite; return, return, that we may look upon you! [I replied] What is there for you to see in the [poor little] Shulammite? [And they answered] As upon a dance before two armies or a dance of Mahanaim.” Song of Solomon 6:12-13 AMPC

The Shulammite is hungry to know the King, who is the Good Shepherd. She’s so caught up in knowing Him that she doesn’t realize the power that has come through her, in their love. As the daughters of Jerusalem go after her to behold her beauty, the Shulammite asks them “what is there to look at.” Their response is that when we see you, we see the dance of Mahanaim, which means THE DANCE OF TWO ARMIES.

In other words, the love relationship you have with the King, has given you the authority of two armies. That is the power of prayer and the gift of prophecy. One can send a thousand to flight, but two can send ten thousand to flight. This gift of prophecy encourages you and others, bringing a fresh anointing of the Lord’s hope and future. (See Jeremiah 29:11-13)

Where is it that you or someone you know needs hope? Seek God and desire to prophesy!

[i] Strong J. (1890) Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Abingdon Press. Strong’s Concordance Greek word # 4152 “gift”

[ii] Strong J. (1890) Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Abingdon Press. Strong’s Concordance Greek word # 4394 “prophecy”

[iii] Strong J. (1890) Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Abingdon Press. Strong’s Concordance Greek word # 3619 “edify”

The power of the Holy Spirit was poured out in the time of Acts 2. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we have been given the gift of prophecy. Prophecy edifies the body of Christ. Where is it that you need edification? Learn how the Holy Spirit gives us edification through prophecy.

*****

Welcome to Celebrating God’s Grace, A Women World Leader’s Podcast, I’m your host Robin Kirby-Gatto.

Thank you for joining us today as we celebrate God’s grace, in our lives, in our ministry, and around the world.

Today’s message is titled: The Gift of Prophecy

The apostle Paul, writer of most of the New Testament, urged the church to edify one another in the grace of God revealed in the gift of prophecy.

1 Eagerly pursue and seek to acquire [this] love [make it your aim, your great quest]; and earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual endowments (gifts), especially that you may prophesy (interpret the divine will and purpose in inspired preaching and teaching). 2 For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding]. 3 But [on the other hand], the one who prophesies [who interprets the divine will and purpose in inspired preaching and teaching] speaks to men for their upbuilding and constructive spiritual progress and encouragement and consolation. 4 He who speaks in a [strange] tongue edifies and improves himself, but he who prophesies [interpreting the divine will and purpose and teaching with inspiration] edifies and improves the church and promotes growth [in Christian wisdom, piety, holiness, and happiness]. 5 Now I wish that you might all speak in [unknown] tongues, but more especially [I want you] to prophesy (to be inspired to preach and interpret the divine will and purpose). He who prophesies [who is inspired to preach and teach] is greater (more useful and more important) than he who speaks in [unknown] tongues, unless he should interpret [what he says], so that the church may be edified and receive good [from it]. 1 Corinthians 14:1-5 AMPC

I will never forget the first time I experienced the beautiful gift of prophecy at a women’s prayer meeting. I had known the Lord and attended church since I was a little girl, but it wasn’t until 2003, in my mid-thirties that I witnessed an elderly woman prophesying over another sister-in-Christ. To me, it started out as a day of excitement and anticipation. I was hungry and thirsty for more of God and didn’t know what to expect at a prayer meeting, other than there would be a short teaching, which would then lead into a prayer.

Up to this point for a year-and-a-half, I had been reading the word of God hours a day and praying earnestly after each reading. God had to redeem the time in my life, as the power of Holy Spirit came on me Resurrection Sunday 2002, setting me free of alcoholism. My joy was full and made complete, as I experienced the washing of God’s Word, and the bounty of Living Waters in my belly.

It was then that I wanted to pour the abundant Life I possessed upon others but didn’t know how. I couldn’t put words to it, or never knew what “it” was that I was looking for.

The teaching at the meeting had ended, and the women began to pray. About ten minutes into prayer, I witnessed the gift of prophecy. My heart leapt with joy, as prayer and prophecy continued throughout. At the end of the meeting, I spontaneously erupted “WHAT WAS THAT?” The women explained that it was the gift of prophecy. Caught in the afterglow of such powerful prayer and prophecy, I then blurted, “I’VE BEEN LOOKING FOR THAT ALL OF MY LIFE!”

I didn’t know that this was the “it” I was looking for as a Christian. I’d known the Word of Truth for years, but somehow my eyes were covered from seeing 1 Corinthians 12 and 14 with the gifts of Holy Spirit.

I desired prophecy all my life as a Christian, how could I not.  All through high school I was a football cheerleader. It made my heart content, running up and down the field cheering the football players on, to win the game. I love edifying others, and to me, prophecy is cheerleading the saints.

The Greek word for gift is pneumatikós pronounced pnyoo-mat-ik-os meaning, “ethereal, supernatural, and spiritual.” [i] Ethereal means that which is beyond the clouds and is heavenly. The gifts of God came to mankind on Pentecost at the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, prophesied in Joel 2.

28 “And afterward I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. 29 Even upon the menservants and upon the maidservants in those days will I pour out My Spirit.” Joel 2:28-29 AMPC

The Holy Spirit, Who is at the Throne of God as seven torches of Fire, does not speak His own message, but only what the Father says. (See Revelation 4:5; John 16:13) Thus, this gift of prophecy is God’s grace by the Holy Spirit at operation inside of us, to speak edification according to the need.

Jesus teaches the disciples how to pray in Luke 11, saying “give us this day our daily bread.” (See Luke 11:3) Immediately after the Lord’s prayer, Jesus depicts what the bread represents. He describes a man who had need of bread, since he had visitors over at his house. He then goes to a friend’s house to ask for bread at midnight and knocks on his door. The friend tells him to leave because it was late, and his children were sleeping. That didn’t stop the guy from knocking on the door, and finally the friend got up and gave him as much as he “needed.” Jesus then goes on to explain that we are to keep asking, seeking, and knocking, and the Father will open the door to give us the gift of the Holy Spirit. (See Luke 11:5-13)

There are times in your life when you need a personal cheerleader, you need to be edified. Moreover, there are times that you will come across others who need to be edified. In such times, the Lord God supplies us with grace to ask, seek, and knock on the door and the gift of the Holy Spirit will be poured out to bring forth the edification needed in prophecy.

Prophecy in Greek is prophēteía pronounced prof-ay-ti'-ah meaning, “prophecy, prediction, and prophesying.” [ii] Prediction comes from the Latin word praedicere meaning “make known beforehand.” The Latin word for prediction is spelled P.R.A.E.D.I.C.E.R.E. As I saw the Latin word for prediction, I couldn’t help but see PRAED as PRAYED, and icere as I C (see). In John 16:13 Jesus states that the Holy Spirit will show us things to come. He will show us what to pray. Through prayer, we will feel a lifting in our heart, being filled with joy and excitement that God is up to something. By faith as we open our mouth and pray forth, we shall prophesy! This is the power of God’s grace in His beautiful gift of prophecy.

The gift of prophecy edifies. The word edify in Greek is oikodomḗ pronounced oy-kod-om-ay' meaning, “architecture, confirmation, building, edify, and edification.” [iii] Thus, edification builds people up, confirming what God has placed within them, defeating the powers of darkness that would assail them with lies.

A great analogy of this beautiful gift and what takes place in the invisible realm is in Song of Solomon 6.

12 “Before I was aware [of what was happening], my desire [to roam about] had brought me into the area of the princes of my people [the king’s retinue]. 13 [I began to flee, but they called to me] Return, return, O Shulammite; return, return, that we may look upon you! [I replied] What is there for you to see in the [poor little] Shulammite? [And they answered] As upon a dance before two armies or a dance of Mahanaim.” Song of Solomon 6:12-13 AMPC

The Shulammite is hungry to know the King, who is the Good Shepherd. She’s so caught up in knowing Him that she doesn’t realize the power that has come through her, in their love. As the daughters of Jerusalem go after her to behold her beauty, the Shulammite asks them “what is there to look at.” Their response is that when we see you, we see the dance of Mahanaim, which means THE DANCE OF TWO ARMIES.

In other words, the love relationship you have with the King, has given you the authority of two armies. That is the power of prayer and the gift of prophecy. One can send a thousand to flight, but two can send ten thousand to flight. This gift of prophecy encourages you and others, bringing a fresh anointing of the Lord’s hope and future. (See Jeremiah 29:11-13)

Where is it that you or someone you know needs hope? Seek God and desire to prophesy!

[i] Strong J. (1890) Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Abingdon Press. Strong’s Concordance Greek word # 4152 “gift”

[ii] Strong J. (1890) Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Abingdon Press. Strong’s Concordance Greek word # 4394 “prophecy”

[iii] Strong J. (1890) Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Abingdon Press. Strong’s Concordance Greek word # 3619 “edify”