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

Christ's Continuing Voice in the Church

In the setting of spiritual worship, we can all sing or declare our praises to God.The Holy Spirit is present to inspire us with odes that are prophetic in nature and delightfully edifying.The "spiritual songs" mentioned in Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 are spontaneous songs of the Spirit inspired, prophetic expressions that bring an immediate awareness of God's presence and a deep sense of personal edification.The inspiration of the Spirit is for the whole congregation as well as each individual.Truths of God formerly not understood or appreciated become significant as a person sings forth the dynamic insights, blending his or her contribution with songs of praise from other worshipers.Let's make space available in our church worship for such spontaneous praise to be enjoyed by all.It is an entry-level door to prophetic activity. 4 Paul explains the inability of the natural man to understand spiritual things.He says that "the depths of God" (1 Corinthians 2:10} are inac cessible to man but that the Holy Spirit can explore this vast treasure vault.The Spirit has been given to us so "that we might know the things freely given to us by God" (verse 12).Verse 13 holds the key to under standing this "prophetic state" expression in local church worship.Of these spiritual things, Paul wrote, "we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words." Michael Green, commenting on this text, observes that "it takes God to reveal God.And Paul claims that God has done so, through the Spirit interpreting spiritual truths to men who possess the Spirit." 5 Consider that spiritual truths are sometimes communicated through the personal impressions given by the Spirit during congregational wor ship.Psalmic style worship helps a person relax from natural thoughts and reach upward unhindered in worship.The church thereby enters into what I like to call a "prophetic state." 6 Technically this is not prophecy per se; it is spiritual worship, the first step in preparation for congrega tional prophecy.It is like turning on a computer so it can operate. Certain scholars of early Church function confirm that prophecy was given in the worship setting of the congregational meeting.David Aune, for instance, says: "On the basis of the evidence in I Car. 12-14 it appears that prophets, or those who prophesied, were active only within the frame work of Christian worship.Further, it appears that prophets were par ticularly active during particular segments of the service...." 7 As we involve spirit, mind and body {pneuma-psycho-somatic) in a total biblical expression of praise and worship, the Spirit drops truths, encour agement and direction into our hearts.If we participated weekly in such wor ship, far less pastoral counseling would be needed! Tensions and problems would fade before the wonder of His presence.Experiencing God in wor ship is one way Christians are taught individually by God.As Jeremiah said: ■ 182