Gift of Prophecy Defined (PJ Smyth)

The Gift of Prophcy - Defined

Written by  PJ Smyth

Definition

In the beautiful array of spiritual gifts, this one particularly catches the apostle’s eye: “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire the spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy” (1 Cor 14:1). The gift of prophecy is the special ability that God gives to some people to receive and communicate an immediate message from God to his people. Paul assumed meetings would be full of this gift (1 Cor 11:4-5, 1 Cor 14:31). I think of prophetic words in terms of the following three levels:

1. General words of love and encouragement from God. E.g. “God wants you to be freshly assured of His total love for you, not dependent on your love or obedience to Him…” These words don’t need weighing because they are actually a truth directly from God’s Word, and whilst they are always relevant, when they are brought to you (or to the meeting) at just the right time, the general truth from God’s word takes on a special intensity and relevance, doesn’t it?
2. Specific words. E.g. “I believe God is taking you to a new season of effectiveness, and that you will know greater intimacy with God and alertness to his spirit….” Again, not much weighing is necessary for similar reasons to Type 1 prophecies.
3. Highly specific words. E.g. “I feel God saying to you that you should move to London and join the church plant there” or “God is calling this church to divide into four new congregations and move to the four corners of the city”. These really do need weighing!

Prophecy is God speaking to man

Paul tells us that ‘anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God’ whereas he who prophecies speaks to men…’ (1 Cor 14:2-4). Prophecy is God-speaking-to-man via a person. This means that possible ways to frame the prophecy would be: ‘I feel that God wants to say to us that…’ or ‘My Children, I say to you that…’. I prefer the second way which is speaking in the first person (as if you are God – don’t worry, we know you are not!) as this is more immediate and intimate.

Prophecy will be encouraging

Paul says that ‘everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort’ (1 Cor 14:3). This is an important guide line. Even if the message is something of a correction or redirection, it will come in a grace-filled and encouraging manner.
The next post teaches on how to learn to prophesy…