Opus 2011-32, Spiritual Gifts: Prophecy

(1 Corinthians 12:10 KJV)  To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

Another spiritual gift is the gift of prophecy.  This is listed in both I Corinthians and Romans.

The idea of prophecy is something people understand but in reality miss the point.  Most people understand prophecy as the ability to forecast the future.  It is like a spiritual fortune teller or in modern science fiction and fantasy, precognition. 

To understand prophecy it helps to look at the Old Testament.  You find the role of prophet goes back through the entire history of God’s people.  The prophets wrote much of the Bible.  There are two elements in prophecy:  foretelling and forth telling.  Foretelling is what most people consider prophecy.  It is declaring the future.  The second part is also important.  Forth telling is preaching.  It is declaring a message from God, usually demanding repentance.

Most often prophecy is a warning of the consequences of actions.  Time and again God’s people would be called to repentance.  Their sins would be pointed out and they would be warned about the wrath of God to come.  Usually there would be an escape clause.  The purpose was not to watch them squirm, it was repentance.  God wanted them to turn from their wicked ways.

And so today I think prophecy is a word from the Lord that holds a warning and a demand for repentance.  It can be a style of preaching or unexpected in a service.  It will always be in agreement with the rest of scripture.  The truth will be obvious.  We are expected to respond.

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