Your Sons & Daughters Shall Prophesy - Prophetic Gifts Today In The New Testament Church

Christ's Continuing Voice in the Church

I have heard simple prophetic statements move a congregation or some one in the congregation profoundly.When a discouraged person forces himself to a worship service, for instance, he may be gripped by a beau tiful but simple expression of God's love and concern for His people.As the worshiper opens his heart to the prophecy, he experiences a marvelous release from his burden and is lifted up.To see the statement in print later or to hear what was prophesied when you were not present often seems strange, even meaningless.A prophetic message does not compare with Scripture teaching or preaching because it is directed more to the imme diate heart needs of the people than to their intellects. I write these lines on a Sunday afternoon.This morning my wife and I attended the church in San Jose that we founded more than three decades ago.Because we are usually traveling in ministry, it was good to be home without any ministerial responsibilities.I was uplifted greatly by the wor ship, although I heard some choruses that were new to me.The atmos phere was one of worship and praise. Then, utilizing the microphone (see chapter 22), three people gave prophetic expressions that were a great blessing to me.First there was a prophetic song of encouragement by the pastor: "I, the Lord, make streams in the desert, rivers in the valleys....I will bring life to your soul....Be thirsty in your heart....I make a way where there is no way....I am the way; I am your way." Then there was an exhortation by a woman in the church urging people not to be discouraged with this period of tran sition.We were to move ahead in spite of pain, for when God was fin ished and brought the answer of life, we would not even remember the pain!Third, my daughter Janice saw a vision of a toddler learning to walk, describing the feeling of distress that the child would experience trying to walk or turn and then falling.The vision illustrated the condition of some of us in the church, but we were assured that God had decreed hope for us and exhorted to remember that our security was not in natural things, "just in Me!" I cannot begin to do justice to the song, the exhortation and the vision, nor can I repeat the exact words.I can testify, however, of the wonderful uplift that these spontaneous, Spirit-inspired manifestations gave to me, especially as they were enhanced by the preaching of the Bible. Sometimes such expressions are more complicated or varied, but this simple description is meant to represent just a peek for any reader who has not experienced prophetic utterance and spiritual revelation. Most available to all. Someone may wonder at calling prophecy the most significant gift, especially if that person feels that his or her own gift ing is quite important (or most important) to the body of believers.You should appreciate your own gift or ministry.But remember that in addi- ■ 170