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

Christ's Continuing Voice in the Church

result" 18 or "effects" 19 of prophecy. It fixes the "objectives" of prophetic discourse 20 and delineates "the functions of the prophetic word." 2 1 Three words in this verse give us a thumbnail sketch of New Testament prophecy and show the divine intent or nature of prophecy: Edification (KJV, NKJV, NASB), Greek oikodomen: "strengthening" (Nrv}, "upbuilding" (RSV, Williams), "power to build" (NEB), "improvement" (JB), "help" (TEV), "helping others grow" (NLT), "helped" ( CEV). Prophecy builds up individuals, but more importantly the whole assembled company. 22 Exhortation (KJV, NKJV, NASB), Greek paraklesin: "encouragement" (NIV, RSV, JB, Williams), "encouraging" (NLT), "encouraged" (CEV). Some times presented in a fiery, challenging way and other times in soft, beck oning tones, prophecy stirs the people of God to action. Faith is lifted to new levels and believers are filled with great confidence in their God, heartened and inspired to face the burdens of daily life. This word comes from the same root as Paraclete, Jesus' term for the Holy Spirit, whom He promised to send to assist and support His disciples (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7). Comfort (KJV, NKJV, NIV, TEV, Williams), Greek paramuthian: "conso lation" (NASB, JB, RSV), "comforting" (NLT), "made to feel better" (CEV). Many people drag themselves to church weighed down with the cares of life. Because I live in the Silicon Valley of California, the electronics cen ter of the world, I know how people can be driven into the ground by the goals of money-hungry management. Such wiped-out workers need the awesome comfort of the Holy Spirit. Like eagles catching a thermal cur rent, the people of God experience gracious spiritual updraft when they come to worship! The emphasis of this word comfort is on gentleness. 2 3 It basically means to speak "in a friendly way." 24 People undergoing de pression, sorrow and heartache are comforted and sustained by a nur turing prophetic word. These three words depicting the divine intent for prophecy mean "to build up, stir up, lift up." Each of them in turn contributes to the sub stance, motivation and comfort of people's faith. Verse 5. But even more. Paul wants everyone to experience the edifi cation that comes through personal communion with God in spiritual lan guage, as well as through public prophetic communication from God in the corporate body of the church. Prophecy is preferred in the public set ting because it edifies not just one, but all the church. As Fee says, "Thus it is not inherently greater, since all gifts come from the Spirit and are ben eficial. It is greater precisely because it is intelligible and therefore can edify [the whole church]." 2 5 As Paul writes, he is actually battling on two fronts: "On the one hand he must warn against an overestimation of glossolalia but on the other 218