The Gift Of Prophecy
But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort”. (1 Corinthians 14:3)
When you spend time in prayer, asking for all your materialistic needs; you should also ask for the spiritual gifts, “ To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge, to another faith, to another gifts of healing, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:8-10). These gifts will strengthen you spiritually and help you to stay strong in all your circumstances.
The Bible tells us about the gift of prophecy, “But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening,encouraging and comfort” (1 Corinthians 14:3). So, when you have the gift of prophecy, the Lord will enable you to reveal the future. During such moments you may fear, whether what you are saying is correct or incorrect. You may wonder, what the people may speak about you. But God will give you the gift of faith too, which will enable you to speak with a holy confidence. You will not fear anymore and this is what the gift of faith can do.
In the year 1985 when I fell sick, I was taken to the United States for the treatment. And a beloved bishop came to see me. He was perturbed to see my condition. At that very moment, the Holy Spirit came upon me and I began to prophesy. The Holy Spirit enabled me to explain the meaning of it too. It was a message concerning the future of his church. However, I was gripped with fear and thought to myself, “I’m in the sickbed, what can I tell him”. But at that very moment, the Holy Spirit, filled with me with the gift of faith and it gave me a confidence to narrate the meaning of the prophecy. When I explained the meaning, the Bishop was pleased to know that and said, “Brother, I know it is the Lord who is speaking to me through you and I completely believe it”.
Yes, this is how the gift of faith works with the gift of prophecy. Sometimes you may hear people saying, that they want God directly to speak to them. But during times as these, God will bless you with this gift of prophecy and you will utter words through the Holy Spirit, that will encourage them. Because the gift of prophecy is the greatest of the 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit and also one of the most powerful ones. That’s the reason Apostle Paul says, “…desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy” (1 Corinthians 14:1). As the gift of prophecy is where you get the word directly from God and should be used for the upliftment of fellow brothers and sisters
You too can receive this gift of the Holy Spirit. You should spend time in prayer and allow God to work in and through your lives.
Prayer:
Loving Heavenly Father, fill me with your Holy Spirit and with the gift of prophecy. Strengthen me in my walk of faith and let the words of my mouth be directed by the Holy Spirit, for the encouragement and edification of fellow brothers and sisters.
In Jesus name, I pray.
Amen