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

Christ's Continuing Voice in the Church

Again we meet Agabus more than ten years after his introduction in Acts 11. He probably made his home somewhere in Judea but from time to time visited the churches. I cannot imagine that Paul would have been receptive to his ministry if Agabus were not considered reliable and sub mitted to authority. In the tradition of Ezekiel and Jeremiah (see chapter 6), Agabus acted out his prophecy by using Paul's belt to bind his own hands. This is some times referred to as "prophetic symbolism" but is more accurately described as "enacted prophecy." Three surprising examples from the Old Testament: • Ahijah's tearing of the new cloak (1 Kings 11:29-39) • Isaiah's going naked and barefoot for three years (Isaiah 20:2-6) • Ezekiel's shave and haircut (Ezekiel 5:1-17) In an excellent article on the subject, H. McKeating explains: "The pur pose of enacting a prophecy is frequently to create, perhaps in a more powerful way than the spoken word ever could, that prophecy's fulfil ment. " 19 The enactment is as much a part of the prophecy as the words, and usually the graphic demonstration forms a picture in people's minds that is remembered more easily than mere words would be. Let me use a personal illustration. Some years ago a group of ministers gathered for a retreat of teaching, prayer and fellowship in the San Bernardino Mountains. Some pastors who were seeking God's direction, realizing there were prophetic min istries present, requested that we have a time in which prophecy might be given over those who so desired. After prayer some of us laid hands on these seekers and prophesied. A Canadian was the most forlorn-looking pastor I had ever seen. Slumped in his chair, he was the picture of dejec tion. How, I wondered, could the poor man be helped? Then I felt the Lord say, Take him by the hands, pull him to his feet and make him dance! I had never seen such a thing done and, frankly, the thought was repul sive to me. As the impression grew stronger, however, I began speaking to him about the joy of the Lord. Taking him by the hands, I pulled the bewil dered fellow to his feet. Then, looking him in the eyes, I told him that the joy of the Lord was his strength and that he was to rejoice with me. God's joy swept over me and I began to laugh and jump up and down. He responded slowly. Then the meaning of it swept over him and faith took hold. He began leaping and shouting and laughing, losing all restraint. The two of us whirled around the room praising God-and my brother ■ 206