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

Prophets and Prophecy in the Book of Acts

the church who had been praying for me and wondering at my prolonged silence on the floor. Now they came alive and bounced with joy. Later I caught the last bus home and burst through the door speaking in tongues. The next day at school I had to speak slowly and carefully in English, or I would break out once again in tongues! And for the past 55 years I have continued to use this inspiring ministry of prayer language in my prayer times, sometimes speaking a number of different languages. 8 In chapter 13 I will address the question of tongues as a literal language and whether it is for public display or personal devotion. "'And it shall be in the last days,' God says, 'that I will pour forth of My Spirit upon all mankind; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even upon My bondslaves, both men and women, I will in those days pour forth of My Spirit and they shall prophesy."' The prophecy of Joel, quoted by Peter, is "the key to the right under standing of the history of primitive Christianity." 9 This astounding pre diction found fulfillment in the dramatic events that occurred on the Day of Pentecost. Peter explained the phenomena of miracle language, strange behavior and supernatural signs as the beginning of Joel's prophetic out pouring.10 He was clearly identifying the Church of the last days as Spirit filled and prophetic in nature, closely linked with God's action of "pour ing forth" His Spirit. The previous restrictions that limited spiritual participation because of nationality, age, sex or social status were super seded by a new law of the Spirit that unifies and reconciles people so they all can share the same spiritual privileges (see Galatians 3:28). The era of the prophetic people had been launched! The Church of Jesus Christ, composed of believing Jews and Gentiles, became the new Israel of God longed for by Moses (Numbers 11:29) and foretold by Joel.11 Jesus, who had come as the prophet of God,1 2 now returned to grace all His followers with the same prophetic mantle in the Person of the Holy Spirit. This "universalizing" of the Spirit among all God's people now replaced the "individualized" Spirit whom Jesus alone had experienced. Clearly the Church is declared a prophetic community. As Peter quoted from Joel 2:28-32, he inserted four significant, defin itive words not found in Joel: "And they shall prophesy." This inspired statement hangs like a banner over the book of Acts. It is God's declara tion that not just a few have been singled out to manifest the prophetic gift; all have been anointed by the prophetic Spirit. The end time has indeed come! 199 ■ A New Era Dawns (2:17-18)