Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 1 Corinthians 14:1.
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healings by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the discerning of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. 1 Corinthians 12:5-11.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God says:
Jesus went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil. And yet He had emptied Himself and taken flesh to be just as you are except without any sin. So how did He do such mighty works and awesome miracles? I give you the answer and it is the same answer for how you too can do the works He did and greater ones. “God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power.” Acts 10:38. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, they shall have their fill. Matthew 5:6. There is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit!
When you walk by the Spirit you are attuned to the things of the Spirit. You see into another realm with the eyes of your heart and you hear from Me with the ears of your heart. Do not live only in the world at the flesh level, just focusing on things which are seen, but put your mind higher on the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18. You do not see Me now with your physical eyes but I AM your number one reality. I am eternal and I change not. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever, and He came to serve you and give His life for you. And He still does as your good Shepherd and great High Priest. Know that I am for you. And that is why I gave and give you Jesus and that is why I gave and give you My Holy Spirit through Him. So do not be unaware that My Spirit is within you and you have access to Me by My Spirit constantly and continually. I am present as your helper. And I do not want you unaware of the gifts that My Spirit distributes among you to each of you for the present need. If you read the book of Acts you will find the early church community was very aware of, and very grateful for, the Holy Spirit.
“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healings by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the discerning of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.” 1 Corinthians 12:5-11.
Today’s Life Lesson is on the gift of prophecy. This gift is very important for the church and for each member, so important, that My servant Paul, who moved in all the gifts, wrote by the Holy Spirit, “Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.” 1 Corinthians 14:1. Why does he single out this gift above the others? “One who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation.” 1 Corinthians 14:3.
The wish that all may prophesy is not new. Moses cried out, “Would that all the LORD’s people were prophets, that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!” Numbers 11:29. Now I have answered that prayer for I have poured down My Spirit upon all believers, just as My prophet Joel foretold. “It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.” Joel 2:28-29. And what happens when the Spirit is poured out on you? You will prophesy. And prophesying will change you. Samuel directed Saul to go to a group of prophets and join them in prophesying, for “Then the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you mightily, and you shall prophesy with them and be changed into another man.” 1 Samuel 10:6.
Move in the prophetic, for as you do this more will come, “Let the Word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” Colossians 3:16-17. Let My Word fill you richly, abide in Him and keep His Words abiding in you, and out of the fullness, edify, exhort, and comfort one another. This is prophecy.
When you prophesy you speak My Words to people but it changes your life too. You are a visionary, a watchman, an encourager, an exhorter and a comforter when you prophesy. Very simply put, when you prophesy you become My messenger to others. I reach out to them through you. But do not just say anything. You must speak as I direct by My Spirit in you and on you. If you are open to My Spirit and not just looking for words for yourself, but are interested in helping others, then My Spirit will point out who you need to speak to and what you need to say for the moment. Be careful not to prophesy things I did not tell you to say and create false hopes, dreams, and deceptions. Prophecy is not flattery. It can contain praise when due and encouragement but it is real and not for personal gain but for the edification, exhortation and comfort of the other.
And since I tell you that I want you to all prophesy, it means it is a gift that you can have by desiring it and receiving it. Go deep within in prayer in the spirit and it will surface. Get filled with My Word. Abide in the vine so that My divine life in My Spirit can dwell in you richly. For My Spirit guides you to all truth, and My Word is truth. That is why I tell you that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Revelation 19:10. The gift of prophecy is distributed by the Holy Spirit and Jesus told you that “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me, and you will testify also, because you have been with Me from the beginning.” John 15:26-27. So you see, telling people the good news of salvation is prophesy but there is more here.
Let Me take you to a foretelling in the book of Isaiah. It is a passage about Jesus as your suffering servant but the first part speaks of you who are now His body on earth, His tongue, so to speak, to others, and with so many members there are now many tongues to speak My Words to many people in many places. “The Lord LORD (Adonai YHWH) has given Me the tongue of disciples, That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple. And I was not disobedient nor did I turn back.” Isaiah 50:4-5. This is testimony of Jesus, but do you see? “Adonai YHWH has given Me the tongue of DISCIPLES. It is plural. When you believe in Jesus, I give you to Him, I seal you in Him by the Holy Spirit, “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14. And, when you continue (abide, remain) in His Word you too are disciples. And then your tongue agrees with Him, the High Priest of your confession (in Greek, “homologia,” which means saying the same thing in complete agreement of heart and mind), and you are speaking His Words as they come down to you like seed for the sower and bread for the eater, like rain and snow refreshing the earth and making it fertile and fruitful, soft and pliant, ready for the imperishable seed of the Word to plant that has the power to save. And as you prophesy your words are seed to plant and grow in hearts and bread for those who are hungry for righteousness, peace and joy. You will be an encourager, an edifier, and an exhorter. But you need not worry beforehand about what you say or speak for it will be the Holy Spirit speaking in you. Gifts. And prophesying often also includes a Word of wisdom and a Word of knowledge and it can result in gifts of healings and the effecting of miracles. There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit and one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. And what is the best gift? The one that is needed at the moment.
“Therefore My people shall know My name; therefore in that day I am the one who is speaking, ‘Here I am.’” How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces shalom (peace) and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation.” Isaiah 52:6-7. When you prophesy under the Spirit, I am the one who is speaking, and the person to whom I direct you (and it could be just a gentle nudge, or I bring the person’s name to your mind, and you perceive you should call them or text them or go speak to them) will know by what you say that addresses their current need that I am there with them.
And when you prophesy, always see that what you are saying is backed by My written Word, ask Me for the Scripture that is the witness, and I will give you two or three that rise up in your spirit, for My Spirit reminds you of all that I said. And always remember that even when I exhort the ones going astray I always offer a good outcome if they return. I speak peace to My people. I am the God of all comfort, so give comfort, comfort to My people. My plans for you are shalom and not evil, to give you a future and a hope. I tell the wicked man to forsake his ways and thoughts, but then I send down My Word to heal and deliver him from his destructions. I forgive all your sins, heal all your diseases and pains, redeem your life from the pit, surround you with love and compassion, fill your days with good things so your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Repent and believe for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Be My watchman and I will show you where the danger is coming from and you must speak it out to warn My people.
I love you. Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.